The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-23
Nav YORK, May Is, 1868

To The Editor Of The weRKnexAxs ADvocATs.
As it 10 some time since fah6led my
promise Of writing you an occasional letter,
I write you now, rs there is quite revival
among the trades Of this city, after expert
sncing one OF the dullest winters met with
in q number Of years. | do not intend to
bore the readers Of the ADvocArE with long
dissertation on the state Of affairs, but sim
ply give synopsis of what we are doing in
New York, especially as you, Mr.. Editor, re-
Gently charged your correspondents to be
brief and to the point in their comnunica-
tons.
The trades connected with house building
are very brisk, as a consequences nearly all
have demanded and received an advance.
Bricklayers and masons are receiving $500
per day, their demand having been readily
acceded to. As high as $500 have been Of
fered to bricklayers on q job short dis
lance from the city. The workmgmen have
been somewhat disappointed, as we were in
hopes the bricklsyers would have demanded
eight hours instead Of an advance Of wages.
fear they have lost golden opportunity to
secure short hours, if the demand had have
been made by them have no doubt the car
penters would have followed suit. Carpen-
ters are now earning "a.
The plasterers and painters, both eight
hocr associations, are about TO ask - ad-
vance Of so cents per dav.
The mason laborers have been on strike
the past week for $2.75, an advance OF 25
cents per day. The advance has been gen
orally conceded.
The three divisions OF quarrymen at gen.
eral meeting held the past week, resolved to
ask 81 rs on and after Monday, May Is.
The furniture carvers, cabinet makers and
varnisheys and polishers associations have
been ON strike for the wages OF the past sea
son, they having been considerably reduced
during the past winter. Success attended
their demands, after some demUr on the part
Of their employers.
The Coopers strike 10 at an end after
standing out six weeks, q compromise hav-
ing been effected, guaranteeing them pOr-
ton Of the advance demanded. the same to
be continued for one year.
The Bakers are accomplishing wonders in
the way of organization. They have nov
three unions in this city numbering nearly
fifteen hundred members, and two unions 10
Brooklyn three Of them have lately been
organized, all three being Germans. On
the first OF June they demand to work but
twelve hours as day instead Of sixteen or
more rs ct present, and to receive SS for the
twelve hours 50 worked. There is no class
more entitled to the sympathies OF the ork-
ingmen of other crafts than the bakers. |
would like to see the example Sc. by the
bakers Of New York followed by their fellow
craftsmen Of other cities. They have secured
one Of the largest balls in the city, In which
to hold n mass meeting on Saturday even
ing, May 23rd. IL they meet With opposi-
ton from their employers, it is their inten-
tion to open cooperative bakeries in dis
tricts, TO give employment to their members,
in which movement they ask the support
and patronage Of the workingmen Of all
trades.
Since the National Labor Congress met in
Chicago, the German organizations Of this
city have been making rapid strides in the
way Of organization and support OF the La
Dor movement. We now find them ready to
cooperate with the English speaking work
men in their efforts to better their condition.
They have recently organized Q German
WoTkingmen's Union, and are about to pub
lish weekly labor organ in the German
language, on the cooperative plan, each or
ganizatlon subscribing 500 towards the
Joint capital.
There appears to be q general improve
ment in trade matters throughout the State
Of New York. Several new Unions have
- n~.c
layers and two Carpenters and Joiners
Unions. The bricklayers are doing noble
business in organising their craft, for which
their officers s11 members are deserving Of
all praise.
would here take occasion to call the At
tention Of my fellow craftsmen Of the carpen-
ters and joiners to the necessity Of emulatng
the example set them by the brieklayers in
increasing the number Of their organizations.
As am getting rather lengthy, will now
close. Yours truly,
WIN. J. JEssUP,
Cor. Rep. for New York and New Jersey.