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Show 3 Million Women rdong to Unions Rise From 215,000 in 19 10 As Men Are Called. WASHINGTON. More than 3.000,-000 3.000,-000 women now belong to unions, whereas their membership in 19-10 amounted to only 245.000, Elizabeth Christman, secretary-treasurer of the National Women's Trade Union league, said. While formerly few of the women who belonged to unions ever came to meetings, they are now assuming an increasingly active part in union affairs, according to Miss Christ-man. Christ-man. Old prejudices as to their holding office are breaking down of necessity, now that so many men who were union officials are in the armed services. Although the picture varies from local to local and from trade to trade, so that there is no way of giving an accurate over-all picture of the extent to which women are playing an increasingly important role in union affairs, Miss Christ-man Christ-man said that reports were being received constantly about greater numbers of women shop stewards, committeewomen and field workers. Few women hold nigh union posts, but the tendency is to encourage their training in the lesser jobs, with a view to developing them as leaders. lead-ers. According to Miss Christman, more and more unions are writing equal-pay provisions into their contracts, con-tracts, although it is still true that these provisions are often not observed. ob-served. "It is going to take a great deal more hard work to eliminate the dual wage system in our industries," Miss Christman said. Too little provision is made for upgrading women, so that many "reach a certain stage where they just stay," according to Miss Christ-man. |