New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-04
STRIKE OF THE MASONS.

THE LABoRERs' UNIONS OFFERING RESISTANCE TO
THE REDUCTION or WAGES - WORK on NEW
BUILDINGS PARTLY sUsPENDED-EM NOT
DISPOSED TO MAKE CONCESSIONS.
The Master Masons resolved, at their meet
ing on Oct d. TO reduce the wages OF their employees
from 80 for and from s. 80 to q for other
latorcrs take effect yesterday. The Llborers Unions
the reupon passed resolutions in their meetings last
week resist this reduction BY general strike work
was accordingly partially suspended yesterday morning
upon tho buildings in progress To ascertain the
merits OF the and TO give both bosses and employees
a fair hearing. the purpose OF TRIBUNE
reporters visits to various parts OF the city. From
conversation with tho bosses. their ground OF action was
learned to be as foows They that the and
other aborers employ cd in the building Interest are re-
ceiyus higher wages. In proportion than men at work
on railroads in founderes, in any other branch OF
industry; that the present tendency OF prices -
downward aud the supply OF labor exceeds the de-
mand by at least hreequarEcrs 1t 10 perfectly proper 10
insist upon a reduction in wages They say that the
men are controlled entirely by the La6orers Unions
whose leaders live upon tho initiation fees and
dues obtained from the members. under the pretense
o protectng their interests and that these unions die
tate the ridiculous terms to the oossos' Among
these absurdes said TO be rules that no more han
10 bricks must be placed in hod which would easily
hold 49, even II hoised by steam that members are not
allowed TO work beyond the established eight hours
even wiling-for the simple purpose OF completing
lob unless they formally suspend. and resume again
that they are not allowed to both hands IN lifting
brick that leader mustn't raise his nod untii the
others are all filed that they must make slow
time, and that "a fine OF S25 Is imposed Tor
working with nou-society men. II is also
said that Jobs put under strikes for the most trivial
causes The bosses express themselves wiling TO con-
Time the old wages IL will consent to work ten
hours instead eight heretofore They report that
while the Now-York Labor Unions are not willing to
allow their members 70 work ut reduced wages Western
contractors in and picking up aborers at as low
figures as 81 70 a day. get control OF much
OF the work; and that under present ar
ranpements only capitalists can afford TO build
They claim that for the last eighteen months they
have paying the men 20 per cent more than ever
before and In OF the present shrnkage In values,
they insist that the proposed reduction OF wages Is only
fair compromise, and that tho men WILL In the end, be
benefited by being kept at work They say that four or
i've years ago the struck for an increase of pay
from a. 90 to S. - for eight hours work. that ever
since then they had their way ana that in the
Summer they asked for decrease OF hours. which
granted without corresponding reduction OF pay.
Work on the new Post-Oicei continues without inter
rupton About 225 men are employed They have been
working ten hours day for the last two weeks receiv
ing extra pay; but yesterday morning the time
duced to eight hours without any reduction OF pay. No
change contemplated the contrary, Mr. Stenmitz
says he Will increase his force rapidly he OBJ
tain materials to keep extra men employed This
is decided on in view OF Importance OF getting the
masonry ready for the roof as rapidly as possible.
On the Western Union Telegraph Company's building
at Broadway and Deyst., work was suspended yester
day morning. The force employed was I6 masons.
apprentices, and 80 ordinary labOrers. The
plain they can't work than three or four days
in the week. on average account OF bad weather,
lack Eof materials and other causes They say they
can't see yet any decline in the cost OF living and
complain that there injustice In the present at
tempt to reduce their wages One man. with family
Of nine, said his expenses were 20 u week, To
for his own labor, and si2 for that OF one
his boys wien they could obtain continued employment
Another man. . with only wife. said cost him "a
week TO live, and that the work he obtained merely
here members OF Labor Unions On conyersing
with the contractor the reporter was informed hat some
10 work II they were reduced only cents day,
that they dared not for fear OF the hostility OF their
societies The contractors they are suffering from
lack Of stone and that they can Wen anOrd - let things
take their own course for a few days.
ON THE TRIBUNE building 10 men were employed. all
Of whom declared that they were unwilling TO resume
| they must submit 10 reduction OF rates. The men
take tho matter philosophiealy and express deter
while the contractor appears equally hrm In MS posi-
The worknen employed upon tho Delaware and Hud-
son Canal Company's building, at Cortandt aud Church
sts.about 60 In number-rcfused to resume work and
~ new men were at once put In their place The
expect TO be aoe very soon 10 get fu force
| at the reduced rates. .
In Central Park, the is employed IN the Museum
OF Natural History 70 work at the new prices.
The Manhattan Real Estate CompanyB Dundlngs, at
Church. Duane and Thomassts.. the site OF the old
CITY Hospital afford employment 10 force ~ 40 men.
| who are working usual The contractor SAYS ne
has no present intention OF reducing their wages but
tho strike should succeed he Will naturally avail him
| self Of the reduction Ia rates
ON the Brooks Brothers building ~ Broadway and
Bond-st "a men employed. No reduction IA wages
made, nor contemplated importance
completing building as rapidly "a possible being
| considered paramount.
On II. K. Thurber * Co.'S new building, at Cham
bers West broadway. and Huds0n-sts force Of IS
| men, whose have not been reduced. Tue con-
tractor says he shall next pay day be governed by
circumstances IN tho matter VI proposing reduction VI