New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
THE LABOR REVOLT.
STRIKE OF THE cooPERs.


and Jersey City left their posts yesterday The strike
accordance with notice served on the boss coop
Nrs on March 49, the effect that they must stop sup
plying sugar reaneries with sugar barrels made In
Maine that branch Of the coopers injured by the use
81 such barrels would strike May 1. The principal
arm affected by the strike is that Of N H. ODonnel
which operates several cooper shops in this city, in
Jersey City, and Brooklyn Z. D., and has been employ
INC one hundred and twenty-five men, This house. say
ne eoopers, is the principally at fault The work
en employed in the shops OF several sugarreaDeres,
shere these barrels used also struck Yesterday
Among hVse left we're the EetneTes of oosershausen
Bros az No 100 Fronts employing between thirty aud
forty ooopers the NewYork steam Sugar Refining Co,
u No 297 sOuth-st, employing eleven coOpers;
william MOller Sons, OF Yandam-st, and
Sthers. In ALL so co struck in the refueries be-
aide the l25 who left the shops OF the ODonnes Some
Of the obnoxious barrels have been procured by the re-
sneries through specializing boss cOOpers who had the
shipped from Maine and others have been obtained d.
rteJy from Portland by the rehners themselves Inc
rehnors say that they have been using these srnp par
Tels because whom their tanks are full OF srup they
must have great numbers OF barrels az moment hoce
and not always able to set enough OF home manu-
tscure consequently, IL isa great convenience to them
to have large stock OF these Portland barrels on hand
Moreover their prefer these new barrels TO
old ones retrimmed. which are in quite genera! use
The coOpers on the hand, demand that home IN
austry shall supported in preference TO that OF dis
tsnt state. They claim that great many capable
roopers have been unable 70 obtain work during the past
Winter on account OF the of these syrup bar
rels ana that they are prepared to contract
to furnish barrels OF their own manufacture IN any de-
sired quantity cheaply they be got from Maine
They say they have given the bosses fair notice. have
taken no advantage of them, and will not be baked of
what they consider their just dues. II they cannot
kng the bosses 20 terms in other they viii be-
gin general strike In all the shops that furnish
barrels TO the obnoxious refneries The furnishing Of
sugar barrels ia much larger branch Of the trade than
that Of making the srup barrels out OF the 1000
coOpers in and about this city, only 200 are directly n
iured by Of Portland strip barrels The WORK
inclined perhaps, TO regret having given
the bosses ample notice, opportunity was afforded
Of laying in a great store of material.
W. II. ODonnen sent Committee 10 confer with
the strikers, and propose terms OF reconciliation
Tie firm offered to desst from procuring Portland bar
res after the present supply is exhausted; but the
coopers demanded unconditional surrender, as the
employers had received months notice of what
expected Of them. The strikers and the whole asso
station cOopers CHEEKY and confident and look for
triumph within few days In case OF disappoint-
ment they have made careful provision for holding out
for months II necessary.
THOROUGH ORGANIZATION OF TIRE CooPERs.
The coopers in Jersey City, Whamsburgh Brooklyn
and NewYOrk City number about 1000 Eighteen humid
Of these society and the remaining 200
Gueoringly styled "scabs." The organization is very
thorough, and the whole body with singular con
cert. They divided INFO large number Of lodges
each which delegates deputy to represent it al the
general council. where measures which govern the
lcton Of the society are introduced and general plans
sre matured Their chief deputy is enabled to give all
his their Interests as he receives good salary
The society throughout the country includes nearly
1900 members about 1000 of them being in this city.
The strike is supported by the International Union
every man Of which is taxed for the benefit OF the
strikers as long as the detection continues Coopers In
this city paid from 8 to s. 90 per day for nine and
ten hours Those the wharves work only nine
hours exposure making up for the other hour For
''broken time that when they ore discharged on
account Of slackness OF work before full week Is up
they are paid at the rate OF 81 50 per day, -,
A TRmUSE reporter conferred, Yesterday with both
employers and strikers and got both sides of the ques
ton The establishment OF Aanson T. Briggs, at No. 28i
sooper Of the ety employing 400 or 500 men and having
number OF establishments His principal shops are
Cherryst The brother OF A. T. Briggs explained the
rendition Of affairs al length He dd not think that the
coopes OF work TO any great extent and they were often
roopers who work for the reners lose the trimming
old barrels for use as srup barrels when the Portland
casks used but that loss k insignificant as compared
with the trade in general The strike would only affect
small part Of the boss coopers were confined TO It's
present proportions, but II the strikers ehould pe re-
sisted and should carry out their threat Of striking in all
the shops which furnished sugarbarres for the refine
ries which offend by using the Portland casks, 1t would
De yely Serious 94I!s! nhe naklng 81 soSaI oa[te'S
vs. very mIorani PAY OF we business OF ooOpepage
At the works OF the New-HofK steam sugar Rennlne
Company, at No 291 sOubst, tee officers stated that
their cOOpes had slrpck that dat The grievance was
Inou5tsated with and asked why they should strike
before the coOpers the other rehnerles Inc answer
that beginning must be made, and that they must
Dbey the orders OF the society The officers SAID that
they had particular preference for Portland barrels
but must have barrels toT Their syrup Just Wneh tney
were needed. They objected TO dictation from the
pOopers ana expressed no intention Of yielding,
A conversation was held with the foreman OF the
poopers shop connected with the sugar refinery or the
Havemeyers in WiamsbuIgh, the largest refining hrm
IN this part Of the country In this shop are employed
20 The foreman thought the strike l-advsed
aud unreasonable. Tne retners we're willing 10 use
Yemently as those made in Maine. 1t is impossible TO
get cOOpes enough for the shops that the talk OF the
Of Portland barrels cutting them out OF WORK IS lIe
The strike would not IN any case affect the Have
meyers refinery, for no Portland barrels were used
MerC.
George Bradley. chief deputy Of the Coopers Assoc
alton made an energetic and forclbe defense Of the
notion OF society In ordering partial strike. The
Portland barrels objected 10 he said, IN part OBJ
tanned direct Portland by the reners and in part
bought from boss coopers in and about this city, They
used by only part OF the rehDers OF the city Du on
account Of them good workmen, and many OF them had
lain idle last Winter or had worked LOT 10 w. orF per
week. Some Of the chief boss cOOpers, such as a. l.
Briggs, and the chef refners, as the Hayemeyers,
would not wrong the coopers by using them Inere Is
mo excuse for buying Darrels from Maine when New
York cOOpers stand ready 10 supply as good and as
cheap strip barrels as could be got from Maine ana 10
any quantity. II any bosses nurt by the strike they
have mad ample warning and should have provided
home work The Of the strike Is assured, be-
cause trade Is becoming very brisk and the men cannot
be spared Their places cannot be filed, az the non
society only One-ninh as many as those IA me
society Moreover the strike supported by the In
CeruadOnal Union as 10 insure It's triumph.
Jersey City Willsmsburgh and New-York met in spe-
oal session at No 80 East broadway last even
ing. Reports were received from the establishments
liccted by strike proposals from bosses con
UGered and definite plans made for the future.
THREATS OF THE GASMEN.
Several gasmen now on strike called at the
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