The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-18
THE BRICKLAYERS' STRIKE.

1t is very hard to wiring the downright truth
about the brickayers' strike from either employer
or employed. The men deny tnat they are on
strike, and the bosses assert that they have no
men locked out, yet some Of the works visited yes
terday by HERALD reporter were found to be
bare of bricklayers.
The fact OF the matter Is that during the panic
last year, in the winter and this spring, the dull
ness Of the times compelled tradesmen as well as
laporers to work at any figure they could get The
contractors took advantage OF this state Of things
and reduced the wages OF their hands. Among
others, the bricklayers suffered reduction
from 81 per day to So so. The times
have now changed much for the better,
work is brisk all over the city. and craftsmen as
well laborers putting forth their best efforts
to get back their old ante-panc rate Of wages
They say that when the contractors estimated Tor
their present jobs labor was paid at the old rates.
and that, therefore, return to them Is
#t N ONLY AN ACT OF JUSTICE
to the wOrkingmen and takes nothing out of the
pockets OF the employers. Bosses contend tn at all
sorts OF merchandise and the necessares of lie are
falling rapidly In price, sucn commodities simply
keeping pace with the gold MARKET and that
wages, as a matter OF course, should follow the
men, on the contrary. point to the TACT
that they do not :. get s., as is re.
whole year but about six months can be worked
by the tradesman. the bricklayers also say that
mouse rent and many other important items OF
family expense are as high In price now as at any
previous time since the close OF the war; and there
lore It Is impossible 10 keep themselves In even q
tolerably decent condition II their wages are re-
duced.
reporter inquired from the foreman bricklayer
of the Delaware & Lackawanna CO.'S building, on
COrtlandt and Church streets, the state OF the
strike, and received the following graphic reply
1--WE hain't got no strike here, no how. only q
few men knocked on; you see they thot they'd
get more wages; that's all. Some twenty on em
quit day before yesterday. Guess we'll get along
without 'em"
All Of Mr. Kiernan's hands are at work on the
Dry Dock COmpanys building, corner OF Third
street and BOwery. The men employed there as
well as at Thirty-ninth street and Sixth avenue
and State street, all under the same employer, are
receiving 81. The men are all trade unionists.
The question with the Dricklayers Is one OF wages
only, and has nothing to do with trade union
ism. Efforts are being made by employers to cap
ture all the ble-bodied bricklayers who land in
Castle Garden
The best estimates obtained sets the strength Of
the bricklayers in this city at $500 The unions
In New York have as yet made no appeal to the
trade throughout the country but Will do so II the
bosses remain firm in their refusal to raise the
wages The society now pay the members out Of
work at the rate OF 81. There are three English
speaking and two German unions In the city.
The strikers contradict the statement made In
the Mechanics and Traders Exchange In saying
that the men we're returning to wOrkat So SO day.
They also state that only minority Of the two
hundred master bricklayers in the city attend any
meetn0a n the change.