The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-16
LABOR ITEMS.

Iris estimated that at least 5000 men are
now, or have been lately, on . strike for
higher wages 10 New York city and vicinity.
The house carpenters and joiners, receiving
$3.50 per day, demanded -. The masons,
receiving $3.50 per day, demand IS. The
bricklayers secured their demand for $5 at
once, and contractors are looking for men at
$3.50 per day. The day laborers in the
building trade, receive LIS per day and
demand $3.50 A force Of police Is stationed
| at the docks to preserve order. he carvers,
receiving 50 per day, ask $50. The bakers
ask a reduction Of time froml5 to IL hours,
and an increase Of wages from $l5 to $40
per week.
Ar Windsor, Vermont, it is said that Sc
venty I'VE OF the Peniten,iary prisoners are
employed in making scythe snathes, and
make ten thousand annually This is CON-
planned Of as . serious interference with the
regular trade.
TIE journeymen shoemakers Of New York
met In Inass-meeting Last week 30 protest
against the proposed twenty per cent. reduc-
tion on their present rate Of wages. An ex-
pressIon of the purpose of the meeting was
had in . resolution which was adopted, to
the effect that no decrease in the price Of la
Dor would be accepted by the workmen-
The master ship builders of Detroit have
reduced the wages Of their best carpenters
and cauikers to 81 so per diem.
DURING the last two weeks of April, the
New York Labor Exchange, at Castle Gar
den, procured places for fourteen hundred
| and four emigrants, whilst 1t had applicants
for help to the number Of sixteen hundred
and thirteen persons. The average rate Of
wages procured for these people was SIS q
month for the males, and IS SO for the fe
males.
Ar Milford, Mass, 600 bottomers have struck
for higher wages, but their employers pro
pose TO stop work rather than pay it. Ii
Milford there are one thousand shoemaksrs
and they have work only about one half th'
time.
Tbs various strikes for higher wages il
New York, continue without much change
and the passenger railway and omnibus driv
ers are said to mediate demand for .highe
wages also.
THE New York carvers have determined Il
s.rike for an increase Of fifteen per cent. on
their wages. The average wages Of journey
men carvers is stated at $1,000 to $i7 90 pc
week, while some are making $4,000, snc
others are working for $l2.
| THK bakers Of New York and Brooklyn
held . mass meeting in the latter city or
Saturday, May 9th, preliminary to strike
Addresses were made by several society men
from which it appears that there are up
wards o, 5000 bakers in New York and NOR
than 2, 900 in Brooklyn; that they are harde
worked than any other class of mechanics il
either city, having to labor from sixteen t
nineteen hours per diem, for which they re
ceive only Sill to $l4 per week. Foremen
however, in large establishments, receiv
from $lS to $50. Deeming the wages To-
small and the hours too long, the societie
now propose to insist upon $lS per weeI
and twelve hours work. II this demand !
resisted by the employers these men vii
cease work. One of the speakers asserte
that several employers were in the practic
Of engaging German immigrants at CAST
Garden at woges not higher than s. month
and TO retain them in service, promised Al
advance Of 81 q month at the expiration 0
year.
TIE New York cabinet makers have de
teImined to ask an increase Of from ten I
twenty per cent. in their wages, but def
mite time for striking has not been deter
mined upon.