The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-10

The New York and Brooklyn Bakers
Council.

A"C NC" IOTA uuu brookiyu Bakers a
Council.
mass meeting OF the journeymen bakers OF \,
York and Brooklyn was held last night at Commo
wealth Hall, the Post ONCE Brooklyn, %
take into consideration the advisability OF secu.
an increase of wages and reduction of work.
hours. They are also endeavoring to secure lar
membership In the Protective Union and create
hveer interest among the members in the meetin.
AT the present time there are upwards Of two hun
dred members attached TO the Union In New York,
and about one hundred and sixty In Brooklyn. The
wages of the ourneymen bakers at the present me
vary from 81 to 30 per week, board being included
The hours Of labor are from sixteen to eighteen
day, and they are anxious to have the time reduced
to twelve.
The meeting was called to order at ten O'Clock by
Mr.. Thomas Nixon. Mr.. hasty was introduced, and
stated the object for which they had assembled.
What they wanted was fair days wages for
fair days work. They have to work from four
they were most seriously oppressed. lhey
had great responsibility resting upon their
fault. ourneyman BAKER was Capable of doing u
good days work. and the substance IN pay should
be sufficient to support the body substance. zap
plause.) lie hoped yourneymen would stand fast IN
this Union. They did not desire TO persecue their
employers. They had been working up to the pre-
sent time Tor almost nothing, and he mad known
baker to work an entire week Tor 50, not enough 10
support any man. Now AL they wanted was lair
remuneration for their work He hoped the New
ork men would step up ana make ew remarks.
Mr.. Jacob hnob.och, president of the New FORK
Unions Nos. ald :, then addressed the meeting,
stating the object OF the present demonstration. Ine
speaker alluded TO the successful strike Of the New
York bakers in 1864 and to The fact that the bakers
OF Brooklyn did MT JON them ut that time because
they took no interest IN the matter. lie Appeared 10
the Broonyn men to Oh. anize Thoroughly, as other
mechanics did. Was not .neir trade mechanical
0neY Why, he thought tue trade was one OF the
first trades in the uniled States Of America. Tap
plauseD lie said that Inc saves in tie south mad
been freed, and the only slaves in our land to-day
were the bakers. The negroes were free, but the
bakers mad stepped into their SHOES. Cries Of
"lhats soy on he would tell his fellow Journey
men That they did not want TO sleep any ionger In
in Tue same hoJ they worked in from Monday nor.
ing to saturday night. they wanted to live ike
lated instance where some Of his negro emp o. es
in Charleston Il few years ago had refused TO work
him, This Is our day, to-nolrow's your day."
(Cireers) But when the bakers mere wanted to 80 to
place Of amusement or to church, they mad To ask
their bosses, who sure to tell them to return in
time to put in the SPONGE" Qaughter.) The negroes
said "Master, You must put 1t IN Yourself" The
speaker also alluded to the practice OF bosses 10
catch the German emgrants at Castle Garden and
employ them for So month"; al the same time prom.
sing that II they worked well for year they would
then receive 81. Many of them were kept until they
had no senses. u4aughter.) In conclusion. he ureed
the Brooklyn men to organize themselves thoroughly
in order that they might meet win success.
Mr. Kno0'ock then addressed the nesting In Ger
journeymen bakers of BroOHiyn here tonight ana
has object was W impress upon their minds the ne
cessity OF actlng in concert WIN their brethren OF
New York In furlnerance Of their own rights and
privileges, and TO place themselves on an equal foot
g with their brethren OF the trade who SPEAK an:
/
already made fourth trial, at each OF which they
were successfu ald the brooklyn men, too, would
succeed If they acted rs men who desired
to be equality with their fellow men
should act. lie hoped they would not be
frightened ont OF IL from tndity, arising IN a mea-
from the fact that many OF tLem could not
speak English Were they not men, and
were they not entitled to ali the privileges OF Amer-
cans of whatever nationality They certainly were
entitled to the same rights as otners; and why,
therefore should they work for less wages than
Others They could 40 more SUI port themselves and
families than others could AT the rate OF Sc or SIS
per week. which wa, barely sufficient 10 Keep soul
and body together. AS Il was aC present they mad no
spare time; they could not ENJOY themselves as others
could by gong to PAGES OF amusement,
or INDUCING In recreation In any way,
but were compelled 10 aDDr almost cOntinu
ousy, and in addition were Obliged to sleep In
wholesome basement $ and holes under the sidewalks,
This they must remedy themselves 10y compelling
their employers 10 let them nave dec ut accOniOu
tions and also pay tnem in money, Tor heir board.
AS an instance or the ele Of tn, cXIaus.ing iaDJr
To which they, class, were subjected, the speaker
stated that ON last Thursday evening one Oi tneir
fell asleep standing anst ldnppost. U.dlghterl
Was that the way human beng should liver Mol
They mad tie privieoe, the same as any other
class to demand their rights and MAINTAIN them.
In conclusions, Mr.. hnoDi0ck urged TIE Ger
mans to organize with people speaking the
English language, so II they were unable
In Brooklyn Let theni now go to work, AMI Jet II ne
seen IN Monday papers tHat brookiyn, too. was up
and doing by the organization OF Union 40. 2. lie
hoped German would leave the room without
signing his name 10 the roll.
A resolution adopted to the erect that the
j0urneymen bakers demand that Twelve hours shall
be considered "a IS work, and that the wages he
SIS per for second hands ald not less than SIS
for third hands. The iOrelnen were to H. their
wages. This was to take eIfcct the nrst Monday IN
June.
A large number of the Brooklyn journeymen
bakers then forward and sigael the roll, when
the meeting adjourned.