New-York tribune., 1874-06-13
CONFUSION IN THE BUILDING TRADE.

A SERIOUS STRIKE THREATENED-TIIE BRICKLAYERS
GENERAL COUNCIL. ATrEMPT TO RAIsE AND
EQUAIIzE WAGES.
Another serious strike in the building trade
IA threatened The Bricklayers General council mas
issued manifesto declaring that the standard OF wages
for this year has been Axed at u day, pegnnihg on
Monday the 18th inst requiring all volators to be
immediately reported to the Council This strike
threatens TO be Of serious character than that OF
the since the places OF the latter are easily
supplied from the great army OF unemployed iaoorerS
now in the city, while skilled workmen, lke the Dick
layers are nearly all employed ana IL they striKc
difficulty will be experienced In hnding Suostitules
for them. This fact seems to have encourageu 'he
brickayers to push In the face OF the universal
fai,ure NJ labor this Spring. The employers
have learned of the strikers Intentions and VIII be pre-
pared to meet them as we'll they are able There
want of unanimity among them. however, whch iavors
the strikers. Quite large number Oh 'ho ooSses wno
have small Jobs in the uppcr part OF the Guy Oh
the first rumor a strike. and pay ~ day Others
for some reason kept their ratio OF wages up 10 the
standard all Winter Notwithstanding the general ia IN
last Autumn Most OF the large contractors how
ever pay only t 50 day. and declare that toey Will
make no Increase under any circumstances.
Real estate In NewlYork Is longer held at the in
ated valuation that prevailed for several years suose
quen to the war; the rate Of wages that contractors
could then afford pay now altogether out OF proper
to the prO1tS wnicn tDty oo'0 w ~ 10
said that the taxes and charges upon real estate
are 80 heavy than seven or eig per cent
can now be realized by the erection OF tenement houses
and builders are afraid work for fear that strike
among their workmen may oblige them to pay wages
that will entirely swallow up all their profits Consdera-
BILE anxiety is felt by contractors on account OF the
threatened strike Some Of them declare that they VIII
not even be interrupted in their work by It,
since they can procure plenty of brckayars from New
Jersey and other parts OF tho country: lew men
have even promised defy the orders OF their society
and TO keep working for their present wages Other
contractors fear the strike VIII obige the 10 stop
work entirely One employer said yesterday th Ihere
were a few of his whom he could not spare on
apy terms and these he will keep by paying the IN
crea se ieu,an nded. At the TRIBUNE building, no
fears have yet been entertained on account oi the
strike :. t..
Tine bricklayers say that the rate OF wages Is kept
down by contractors who are anxious To- 40 cheap
work and who are consequently interested IN Increasing
the supply of cheap labor They say also that they
Will have to oey orders OF their Council or be pro
scrbei In the latter when LABOR Is once more 10
demand in order work they Will have TO relon
the society whereupOn heavy hue VIII DC eVied upon
OF them had yet heard OF the Councs decision out
none dared to pute its authority lt Is feared that
this movement OF the brckayers VIII 1ncite anotheT
strike part OF the aborers VINO are ALREADY Jea'
Gus of the higher rate of wages paid " the iorHer