The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-11
THE 'LONGsHOREMEN.

AN INFORMAL STRIKE FOR AN ADVANCE IN
yAGEs-MovEMKNTs or THE MEN AND ACTION
OF THE COMPANIES.
While no definite or determined action has been
taken by any or the unions OF the nongshoremen,
a practical strike exists among large portion OF
the members. IL is OF that character which Is
ike to result IN all the suffering, annoyance and
loss 10 both parties weic , usually follow IN such
movements, MlEbeat any PROSPECTS joI NE III.
mate benefits which sometimes result nom tnenl.
This grows out OF the fact that the strike has been
made without the necessary cooperation to make
IL effective. and without any intelligent appre-
citation OF the existing condition OF affairs. IL IS
undoubtedly true that the 'lopgsaoreman
makes a very Poor living by his lapors
at the best while NJ the worst it IL an extremely
precarious one. The complaint Of many, perhaps
majority OF them, thar they cannot live upon the
amount OF labor furnished them al the prices PAID;
that they are already one two ana three months
behlndhaud IN the payment OF their rent, and that
they with their families, are liable at any mo-
menI TO na turned INTO the street, IS no doubt
based upon TACT. Thus situated. the unhappy
nongsnoreman, not much accustomed 70 reason,
but satisfied that there Is some thing wrong some
where, looks only toa slight ADVANCE in his wages
for a relief from his troubles, and SO strikes for u
without reference 10 anybody or anything else.
OF peculiar incident connected with the labor OF
the men. Inc great majority of the craft at the
piers on the East River are sailing vessels, and
OF a transient character, at least arriving
mere at long intervals With the owners or
agents OF such the speedy loading or unloading Is
OF much greater moment than the twenty or thirty
dollars which the difference in the wages OF the
'longsnoremen between the old price and the one
demanded would make, ana so the required au-
vance from thirty To forty cents an hour was By
them readily agreed TO. me men on the East
River size, therefore, were being paid the latter
sum while on the North River, where are the
wharves u the large steamship lines whose vessels
are constantly coming ana go,ng anu 20 Mhoni
portance, were paving but thirty. Naturally tnls
condition OF affairs could not last long W.taout
one OF the Brooklyn unions. the subject OF strike
was considered and strongly advocated by some,
hut without arriving at any conclusion. on
Thursday evening, al meeting o. Union NO. ., Oh
New York, IL was
II the other unions would, and on Friday even
ing NO. passed a resolution oil the same tenor.
As the result though no combined action was
taken, ana that OF the two unions mentioned was
merely confidential, large numbers Of the men
knocked on work, wnlle others conuhued at the
old rates. Those VINO are for the most part en-
gagged on the sailing vessels and who are receiv-
ing FORTY cents an nour, are very busily engaged
general opinion among tue men is mat Dy Monday
the strike win he general. Large numbers OF the
wnaryes OF the great steamship lines yesterday
afternoon engaged in discussing their grievances
had taken. They all agreed in the statement that
IL was impossible TO live on their present
Few 81 5t them Snnrs Of more sran Ifo
week, and with the great majority IL was
generally less than thus. they ala not complain
OF those who continued To WORK since the strike
had not been definitely determined on, but they
were very certain all OF the men would cease
work on Monday. reserve OF police was scat
tered along the river front during the day, but
their interference was not required, as the men
were entirely quiet and good na5ureu.
TO THE WHARNES.
During the afternoon HERALD represent tiye
visited the piers occupied by some Of the more
me Red line, at pier No. ?, was entirely satls
ned with It's experiences ~ enpoyIng Itaiians ana
at an early hoar member OF the company APP
peared on the wharf and directed .hat the forty
cents an hour demanded should be paid, and
gang oil ;Iongshoremen. under William shaw
steyedore, were at work there during the day
came known among the men elsewhere, and
strengthened their determination not 70 work IN
Al the wharf OF the Mexican Mal steamship line
a few or the old hands were az work ana some
new ones had been employed. The work had been
seriously retarded by ne course OF the men. The
agent STAYED That the company did not propose TO
paw ne advance demanded.
The cromwell line were employing whatever
hands they could get hold or including fult boys
about the markets and Others unacqualnted WITH
tentlon OF accedlng TO the demands made.
The agents OF the Anchor line stated that no
demands mad been made upon tnem They we're /,
paying the same rates as heretofore, that Is /
thirtY cents in the day time aud forty cents at q
nIvhf and were employing the SAM men. Most
of them were union men, though small portion
VINO were not such mad been retained since the
last strike. The agent stated that IN the present
condition OF trade there were more than
could nnd employment, whatever the rates pad. 4
Al tue pier Of the clyde line The agent had a talk
with tne men In tue morning. anu as ne SAID, they /
told aim tney mad enough o. strikes the last time
and were ready TO 20 to work. gang was Sc
red and placed on the steamer Crescent CITY, +
wnen they proceeded to Brooklyn, to unload her
cargo OF sugar. Arrived there. however, and
hearing that me Brooklyn Union was strike
8 portion oil the men refused 70 work AID returned
70 New York.
Al the Pacific, French. InDan aud other
wharves ! similar condition Of affairs existed ana
no disposition 10 comply with the demand for ad-
yanced wages was manifested
Although no formal demand for advance has
been agreed upon In the unions ~ is understood
the men win sand for l0rty cents per hour for
both night anu day, in lieu OF thirty cents ~ day
nla LnLtA 1--we 1t nlEhf. the nreAent rates paid.