The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-30
THE COOPERS' STRIKE.

NOn.S0cicty Men ut Work, and Business I'm.
interrupied-The Dispute II Originated,
aud What Came OF At-Merchnnts Refusing
TO comply with Trades Union Demands.
The excitement created In mercantile circles by
the strike OF the c0Opers has partially subsidized and
although there appears to be determination on the
part OF the selrsacrlfcng strikers to maintain a
spirit OF aggression and independence, the mer-
chants who employed them, having obtained COM
petent help Tor all the purposes OF their business
seem to regard the AFFAIR asa
PERIODICAL EBULLITION
OF stubbornness which they dd not intend to sub
nit In many Of the packing houses where the
services OF coopers were required what are known
Us society men, following the mandates Issued by
their organization. bundled up their Implements
and lett, with the view OF impeding and to some
extent parayzIng the business or the several es.
tab .lshments In which they were engaged, ana the
vacancies thus created have been filed by other
workmen not connected with any trade associa
ton. The strike, as previously mentioned, orlgi-
mated In the house Of Messrs. Wilcox & Co.,
Washington street. Convinced from careful OBJ
servation and some loss that many Of the cOopers
employed did not perform their days work.
or rather failed to execute 1t with proper care,
1t was deemed advisable to furnish each man with
a number, which should be marked upon the fierce
at which he worked, the object being to as.
certain WHO inc were, Since, several
OCCASIONS the co0perage had been found defective.
The numbering, OF course, would have made no
difference so far as the wages were concerned, as
each man was paid SO per day. Such course being
entirely opposed to the rules OF the organization
strike was commenced. AS business could not he
suspended, however, the services OF other coOpers
non-society men, were summoned. The response
was prompt and several houses In Washington
street, having filled up their lists. are working as
smoothly as II nothing had occurred. Indeed,
SO lar as they are concerned, the action
OF the striking coopers is regarded with
COMPARATIVE INDIFFERENCE
while many have expressed their determination not
to give employment to society men under any cir
vlsiied several OF the establishments Yesterday, and
was Informed that large number OF cOopers here
tolore engaged as truckmen. who, owing to their
unwlngness to JOIN trade union had been
compelled to adopt another means OF livelihood,
nad Tiled all the vacancies left open oy the strikers.
No further trouble l. anticipated When this strike
was commenced 1t seems that efforts were made to
induce men from working In some Of the establish
packing houses are supplied with efficient workmen,
In regard to the statement made by Mr. Greenan,
executive officer OF the Manhattan district, that
WILCOX Co. wanted TO reduce the mems work to
piecework. an emphatic denial Is given by the
Germ and one Of The partners. states that the OBJECT
in furnishing the men with numbers was simply 10
discover those who were incompetent to perform
suffered loss In consequence OF the uerces break
ing, because OF
Each man was paid So day, and some, he said,
were not worth 81. The firm, he went on to say,
should not be compelled to- employ people
who were worthless. Losses had been sustained
by breaKage, and 1t was absolutely neces-
sary to discover those VINO were unable to
perform the work. "As 10 being an ambitious man,
as Greenan says am" remarked Mr.. Rogers, land
wishing to trampe on the worKingman In order to
raise myself, that's all very fine. desire to pro.
tect the interests of Inc firm, and competent work.
men ought not to pc ashamed to show their work.
The fact IL, there were some men here who didn't
know their business; but, as they belonged to the
society, they were, OF course. protected py the
others. Everything is quite smooth now, ana many
OF the firms wouldn't have a society man at any
price. It's hardly fair that we should be dictated
to by the men we employ considering that we asked
nothing but what was reasonable" So lar as
THE ACTION OF THE COoPERS
Is concerned 1t appears that they are determined to
hold against the action Of the firms that recently
employed them. They consider themselves aggrleved
In being subjected 10 tally system which cannot be
recognized by the organization; and although all
efforts at intimidation are totally disclaimed the
coopers seem resolved 10 take stand. Not the
very best feeling entertained for the mons society
men who have stepped into their shoes but they
think that the merchants must finally come To terms
is stated that many or the cooper unions through.
out the states have been communicated with In ref
erence TO the question at ISSUE and that some de-
cided action Will shortly be taken upon It.