New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-06
AMONG THE SUGAR REFINERS.

A GENERAL REDUCTION OF EMPLOYEES AND WAGES
BY TIE GREENPOINT MANUFACTUREEs-sTRIKIs
THREATENED, BUT NOT FEARED
Among the sugar rctiners the question Of re-
ducng the OF employees from 10 to 20 per cent has
been under discussion for several days. and although
rumors are in circulation that OF the relneries
have reduced the wages Of laborers $40 and SIS to
S. per week. the representatives OF the principal houses
in the city claimed on Tuesday that the movement
still undeveloped and nothing definite mad been agreed
upon The plea the proposed action is that there is
market for the manufactures and a lack Of conf
dence the trade. Scarcely any failures have been re-
ported yet, but collections they say, made with diff
fcuty owing partly to the high rates of exchange
None OF the rehneres running full" and Ear as
the labor question is involved each apparently awaits
the action of else before declaring any inten
ton as TO what viii be done. II is probable. however
that number Of the houses VIII act in concert.
Havemeyer Elder. who turn ont about 800 barrels
per day from their refinery in Wiamsburgh, thought
that there would be general reduction Of wages among
all renners. The question had been considerably aQl
ated and they intended to act independently OF all the
other refneres. The plan proposed reduction OF
40 per cent the wages Of aud Of 10 per
the wages old hands according length
OF time employed. representative OF this firm thought
that tho reduction woud be general and the ouly
ton to decide would be. how TO do 1t IN the best
This company has large number OF men who have
been IN their employ since the lrm began business,
and through all the strikes in New-YOrk,
| especially that OF the coopers, they were
without hands becduseso the action OF the Trades
Union, these men promised not to strike unless inmi
dared, and they kept their word On this account the
firm to reducing their pay, and would prefer
to work the refinery wthou prqht than discharge their
wages would mako only little difference with the
manufacturing sugar while II would fall very heavily
on the men. They had about 400 employees including
coopers, and unless compelled in sefprotecon, FOL
low the action OF other firms, they would endeavor
retain them. Business was 80 exceedingly depre sscd
that firm had suspended but was intending TO
sumo business having obtained an extension OF time
acted on open they did not know whom sell
to- with prospect of getting rcmtances promptly and
Mr.. sherman of the New-York Steam Refining Com
pany they should make change uul next MONTH
when thoy intended to stop which would render neces-
sIry the discharge OF some OF their men An effort
making To reduce the wages OF the cOOpers who, with
the we're the only aDOrers employed VINO were
PAID larger wages than the bosses Thought they ought
To receive. The bakers who had never been
paid and 10 many instances received only SIS per MONTH
would be treated very icnieny, as they could not well
from ten 70 eight hours per day ana the WAGES oneith
| Hayemeyer Bros. * Co. employ about 10 men, ana
member " the IRA said yesterday that thelr affairs
remain as they now stand they viii retain their full
number of and continue running all Winter. Last
MONTH when the PANE began, theS hnut uoWh ~ once
and put their men ON part time but as confidence be-
reesabshed they restored their full force Their
felhef' III drcehpoiht was IN operation dh, my were
building new house IN Jersey City which they
pOred 10 start In two weeks Ihey would probably not
reduce wages until absolutely Obliged 10 do 80, although
| tho subject was laite generally discussed.
Il. .. hathlcssen Niecners were reported TO have
cut down their productions from 100 10 200 barrels
day ana to have stopped one house TO repair machinery
DecastrO q D0wncr Were also reported - DC Running
| part time, although from these hFms 40 information
| could DE obtained.
Vinticn, Harms 4. Co. have not set discharged any
| men or reduced wages Tney have about 100 IN
their employ. aud although business Is exceedingly du
they have not decided yea which course 70 pursue.
Among mo laDorors t Is thought that ~ fr the
cOo;ors concerned they Viii oppose the proposed
1 dlction, they majority organized Ia trades
unlOIs 1G0 employers, however, arn perfectly ndssr-
ent 10 all stik0s many O tue eiiners wOut willingly
stop manufacturing FOR the present Tue laborors
tho other hand are already poorly paid III thrown out
OF employ ment they will have no means OF support aud
] the burden VI The disaster will fail On them.