National collective bargaining in the foundry industry

The International Molders' Union achieved a national trade agreement in the stove industry in 1891 which is still operative. A similar agreement with the National Founders' Association was abrogated in five years. This diversity of development may be explained in terms of market expansion and technological change. The union equalized competitive costs in the relatively over-developed stove industry, theresby checking a tendecy towards cut-throat competition and creating a partial equality of opportunity in the limited market.