199] FINANCES ^7 



benefit is now graded according to the term of continuous 

 good standing. In 1909 sick and accident benefits were in- 

 cluded. The union pays a weekly benefit of five dollars in 

 case of sickness or disability, for a period of thirteen weeks. 

 From the table given above, it will be seen that in recent 

 years the expenditure has greatly increased on account of 

 the change made in the character of the benefits. 



Administration. — Improvement in fiscal administration 

 has progressed with the development of the Association. 

 This progress may be described under three heads: (i) 

 better provision for an administrative staff, (2) safeguard- 

 ing of the union funds, and (3) improvement in the fiscal 

 administration and discipline of the local unions.^^ 



In the early years of the union, slight provision was made 

 for an administrative staff. National officers, being unsala- 

 ried, attended to the business matters of the union after 

 the day's work in the mill. Permanent headquarters were 

 not established until the early seventies. The employment 

 of paid officials and the establishment of permanent central 

 headquarters mark the beginning of progress in financial 

 administration. The offices of secretary and treasiirer 

 were combined in 1901, thus tending to promote fiscal 

 efficiency. 



The officer in charge of the financial administration of 

 the union is the national secretary-treasurer. As secre- 

 tary, he has full charge of the books ; he must keep the 

 accounts between the local branches and the central office. 

 As treasurer, he receives and pays out all money belonging 

 to the union, is custodian of the funds, and prepares reports, 

 quarterly and annually, of all financial transactions. 



The safeguarding of union funds against misappropria- 

 tion has been, with every trade union, a serious problem. 

 Being unincorporated, the union is without legal redress. 

 The Iron and Steel Workers has been no exception to the 

 rule, and certain defalcations have occurred, particularly in 

 the local branches. 



2^ Sakolski, p. 123. 



