New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-13
FRICTION IN THE OIL TRADE.
A CONTEST BETWEEN TIE COOPERs' INTERNATIONAL
UNION AND THE EMPLOYERS.


The trouble between the journeymen cOOpers
and their employers far wider scope than has
understood by those outside the trade According to
the statements OF the employers the IOuneymen had
become only arbitrary but almost tyranncal and
climax reached about month ago when the work
refused TO allow Charles Pratt OF Prats Astral OIL
Works willamsburgh, to purchase 1000 machine made
barrels whorewith TO i'll order, Notwithstanding the
fact that the coOpers unable furnish the barrels
themselves, and aware that the firm would be
heavy losers by delay. Pratt accordingly dismissed all
ms coopers, and hired number Of nOnsociety
The society c0opers attempted force, but
finally were compelled 10 succumb, number
of them returning TO their work on special terms,
the principal Of which their withdrawal from the
socley. The cause OF the present trouble with the
journeymen c0opers according to the employers state
ments, appears TO be that Lockwood Bros. Holly the
General Inspectors Of Oil. tailed number of men not
connected with the Society TO act special inspectors
Of the shipments Of oil. These inspectors have the
power reject any barrels, while being shipped, that
they consider imperfect The shippers generally send
with the inspector cooper whose duty 1t is to make
the barrel sound once If such thing is possible;
not the barrel is rejected and sent back. Last week
one of these nOn-socety inspectors sent TO the
Weehawken OIL Works, and during the inspection of
number of barrels Of oil that were being shipped, of
the regular journeymen cOopers employed in works
detailed to perform the necessary repairs. The
cooper refused 10 makei the repairs the
ground that the rules or tho society forbade
ms working with n0n-sOcety In this refusal he
was upheld by all the coOpers employed at the Works
whereupOn Nj sweet tie Superintendent, discharged
every icurncymau cooper, ana the Company paid them
of the next day. The superintendent then proceeded
70 employ uOnsOcietY men, ana nc informed tribune
a. r%1rk End had apnicaons for employment from sew
era Olhcrs There was no objection on the part OF the
amount 50 90 per dayll being paid 10 the newly hired
hands oat the COMPANY "o9d not submit 10 inc rules
laid down ty the society, when, among other thlngs
dictated who should be employed labOrers and what
duties IheN snouu p cI9,n, ~ 'us ou'Cu oI .no
jOurneymeu he required und'r tle present c&ctcmcnt
he had 10 fear Of being short OF help at any time during
Tue ioIrneymen through their principal Officer,
George Bradley, give another side TO the question
They say that for some lime the employers have been
Infringing on the rights OF the Joqrneymen, making
them perform an the hard work and giving the profit
day. Among other things, the employers would hire
la6orers close up nlled barrels and yet, if of
should aterward leak, the cOOpers would have
make the repairs The employers had formed a com.
bnaton 70 drive out the society men, and the placing OF
nonsOcltty Inspectors over them only part of this
p 70 such an nyason Of their hints thew foEnd in
the opposition excuse for throwing the men OF
CHARLES Pratt Rockefeller, some q Flemnc,
Burke, Lockwood, A. r. Briggs. and the Wee
hawken oil Works, Tue coopers belonging TO the Society
have been warned Of The lockout and directed TO keep
away from all the premises belonging 10 those firms
Pratt, Rockefeller. and some Fleming want all the
hands take Oatu, forfeit deposit OF $50, that
they will renouuce their allegiance to the Coopers H.
ternaOna UuioL ana give ~ days notice before leaY-
ing iheir employ. The olher HFms demand the same
rues bat do not insist upon the oath, being satisfied
viii agreement IN NEllluE. INC OoOpci> lhttIhd-
tona Union believes thar Is strong enough 10 resist
.uch arbitrary dCtaOu, Hud the members think that
hc over the firms VIII 70 about begging
for jOurncyiucu cOOpers to work for them.
IL was rumOred Yesterday that the sugaThouses
expected 10 establish similar rules to those adopted
by the OIL with reference 10 their cOOpers and in
the Of a refusal 10 agree TO the terms, general
lock out l. expected
meeting OF the Produce Exchange was held yester-
define the position of the Exchange with regard
% the recent disagreement between employers in the
petroleum trade aud the men OF tue COOpers Iuterna
iioua Union. b. -. Floyd presided. IL was resolved
hat ffp NH of I'M
petroleum trade regard the position taken by employers
e. the controversy Just and reasonable support
and kympathy rendered TO them.