Brush Industry Unions

National Trades' Union, March 19, 1836, p. 2, col 3, 4.[March 9] ... Credentials were received from [...] the Brushmakers and Finishers of Lansingburgh, returning George T. Gillespie, Charles J. Silance, and James McKenny for the ensuing year. The credentials were approved, and the delegates were invited to take their seats in the convention.Commons, John R., et al, eds. A Documentary History of American Industrial Society. Vol. 6. Cleveland, OH: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1910. 170-171.

WORKINGMEN AND WOMEN OF TROY.—THE TRADES' UNIONS.—HOW THEY ARE SUSTAINED.—THE TRADES' ASSEMBLY.—EIGHT HOUR LEAGUE.—THE MECHANICS' READING ROOMS.—CO-OPERATIVE STORE[...]

Brushmakers' Union (Lansingburgh).—President, Patrick Tierney; vice president, John Connell; recording secretary, James Flynn; financial secretaries, Patrick Conroy, William Bartlett; treasurer, John Corrigan. Fifty-nine members. Organized May, 1862. Meets second Wednesday in each month.

Brush Finishers and Borers' Union (Lansingburgh).—President, John Flagler, Sr.; vice president, Guy Gowee; recording secretary, Charles R. McDonald; financial secretaries, James McMurray and Andrew McMurray. Eighty-five members. Organized March, 1863. Meets second Tuesday in each month.
Troy Daily Times. November 28, 1865: 1 cols 7-8.

DOWNFALL OF THE BRUSHMAKERS.—A Magnificent Scheme—The Noble Nineteen—Division of the spoils.
In the year 1864; the brushmakers of Lansingburgh organized themselves into a union, to be known as "The Old Brushmaker's association." The union was not an active working institution until the year 1871, when a reorganization took place since which time many new members have been admitted, and up to the present trouble the union numbered forty men. At a regular meeting of the brushmakers, held a short time since, the motion to make an equal division of the funds of the union was considered, and after some lively discussion, a needy member was voted a sum of money, and all further action in the matter was dropped. On Tuesday evening last some of the old members of the union, 16 in number, held a secret meeting at the house of Jno. Murphy, corner of Market and State streets [115th Street and Second Avenue], and organized themselves into a little union of their own. A trustee was appointed in place of Mr. James Mullen, who, although in town at the time, knew nothing of the proceedings. The business transacted might be summed up by saying that it was resolved to draw the union money then in the Bank of Lansingburgh, and amounting to $826, and divide it among the parties then present. Before this could be done, however, three more anxious ones loomed up in the horizon, and they had to be counted in on the spoils. The three trustees, in company with the treasurer, drew the money from the bank, and it subsequently occurs that there was a lion's share in the arrangement, and that a number come out with only a few dollars to console themselves for their trouble. The members who had no knowledge of the secret meeting of the bold sixteen, on becoming cognizant of the affair, held a meeting to take action on the matter, and proceedings were instituted yesterday morning in the supreme court for the recovery of the union money. A lively time is likely to come out of this business which will be watched with interest by all of our citizens.Lansingburgh Courier. December 31, 1875: 3 col 3.

—The Brush Makers Union of Lansingburgh, organized during the war, is disbanded. The newly elected trustees have divided its funds, $826, among the members lately admitted into the Union, leaving the old members in the cold."Gleanings." Tri-States Union [Port Jervis, NY]. January 7, 1876: 4 col 6.

—The Brushmakers' Union will hold a regular meeting to-morrow evening in Dania Hall.
"Upper Troy." Troy Times. June 20, 1904: 6 col 2.

STRIKE IN THE BRUSH SHOPS—Secure Partial Victories in Two Establishments in Lansingburg—OTHERS STILL OBDURATE
One month ago the brush makers of North Albany and Lansingburgh were locked out by their employers unless they resigned from membership in the sand wheel workers, painters and other unions which had been organized among their numbers by the Central Federation of Labor of Troy. When the men were locked out they expected that a firm stand by their unions would result in the manufacturers shortly recognizing them and returning them to work with the unions established firmly. However, the end of the first month of the strike shows only the Troy Brush Company and Dennin Sons of Lansingburgh, with all its men back and these have returned with the understanding that the shops are to remain open.This is a partial victory for the men, they feel, for they have at least the right to prosecute a missionary campaign among the brush makers in these two shops and organize all the branches. They claim that practically all the workmen in the shops named are in the union or will join shortly and that the few who will remain out will not count.The Mohawk Brush Company in North Albany, the Universal and others in Lansingburgh, however, hang together in their determination not to recognize the unions in any way or to allow a union man in their shops. They have succeeded in inducing a few workmen to desert the ranks, and have secured some outsiders, but are not running full forces on full time.

TROUBLE IN LANSINGBURGH.
As a result of some very serious riots in Lansingburgh, some of the non-union men are nursing broken noses, cut scalps and black eyes. There was one workman who persisted in remaining in the Universal shop by the name of Gray, who was done up brown with a black and blue eye, the police say. Judge Bryce in Troy police court has had to dispose of the cases arising out of the strike. In North Albany, there has been no serious disturbance and even the picketing there has quieted down so of late, that police protection is no longer needed.The union men still maintain their headquarters in Lansingburgh and are paying strike benefits. The strike fund is being replenished by other unions contributing and by a hurdy-gurdy campaign through the down town streets of Troy.The brush factory of Lansingburgh is doing business unmolested. While Mrs. Dickinson, the proprietor, refuses to recognize the union, she is according every privilege and consideration to her employees, as a result of the union activities, the union men say.
Albany Times-Union. April 22, 1916: 14 col 8.

IN LABOR CIRCLES—NEXT WEEK'S CALENDAR.—[...]Tuesday, Jan. 21. [...]Odd Fellows' hall, Lansingburgh—Brush Makers' union, No. 4.
Albany Evening Journal. January 18, 1919: 9 col 3.

A NEW wage contract was signed between members of Local 20468, Brushworkers' Union, AFL, and plants in Lansingburgh, Watervliet and Cohoes. It provided an increase of 14 cents an hour for day rate workers; 12 1/2 cents an hour for piece workers earning less than $1 an hour and nine cents an hour for those earning more than $1. Smaller increases were provided for workers receiving less than the minimum hourly rate of 83 cents.
"Memory Joggers; From the Files of 10 Years Ago." Albany Times-Union. September 9, 1956: T2 col 1.