The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-11
sHIPwRIGHTs' DIFFICULTIES.

REASONS FOR srRIKE-wHY WORK Is DULL
IN THIS CITY.
Much trouble and annoyance have resulted from the
strike Of the shipwrighs Yesterday a HERALD re-
porter endeavored ascertain the pro and con Of
ployers and employees The former say they would be
al disadvantage, IT, asking for work, they should
mention their rate at 81 per day per against
the rate OF So so per day paid Red Hook and in New
Jersey; yet they admit that New York workmen are
worth the additional any cents, being much more
expert The carpenters they say, have gone TO work
at the reduced rate but the cakers hold out which is
stil great detriment to the trade, one firm alone
having had TO send away work to the sum Of $4,000
In the following letter will be found full stat G.
ment Of
woRKNES's CASH
To EDITOR HERALD:-
Ten weeks ago received a communication from
the employers stating that meeting Of ship
wrghts had appointed committee TO inform us that
they had determined to reduce pay from 81
10 So 80 per day Now, 81 per day may seem large TO
those who suppose that it means regular pay, upon
which We can rely; but the fact is, and have
been only paid at that rate by the hour going TO
Brooklyn or elsewhere for one-eighth OF day and
paying our own expenses. Then, again, while are
only paid by one-eighths for a day the shippers are
charged Tor nine hours, which is serious
loss TO them The reasons they assigned Tor
reducing US we're the shnnkage in the value of
vessels and dulness In ireghts We acted on the COM
munication through our Executive Committee, TO the
effect that they would give guarantee that the
copper uealerS lurnknerS or materials
and our employers would cooperate with US we would
be willing 10 cooperate with them. They indig.
nant and did not respond, SO work was stopped, for
they had not given US tho notice agreed upon. we
have tried TO get grievances before the shipping
men, for they are really our employers, for they have
to pay: in fact H. A. * j. L. Brookman furnish their
materials and have their clerk to keep the ac-
of time for in that way their bills cannot be
stretched on them Then again. we do not propose 10
be governed in rates by the Red Hook and New Jersey
men, the that they not our equals they
do only the smaller kinds OF work, and cannot do that
all nj hnFa ort vaHn and in
addition to that we had delegation from the Red
Hook men here today who declared that they would
not work for less than 81 per day on the New York
class Of work.
The facts concerning the loss of work to New York
are these-One firm alone took their work away, not
because we charge 81 per day. but because in single
year they had discovered that they had been over
charged time and materials, SS2 000 Then, again,
we claim and show that the firms that stand best
for trustworthiness have done well during the past
year before II is fair to TO show a fall
ing OF in business by comparisons Of the same months
In different years, for work nuctuaes with us-vesses
hauled up for repairs when repairs are needed not
particular dates. And at the fullest only twenty
three out OF thrty employers signed the agreement
TO reduce and some of them say they were driven
into doing Where there has been loss, claim and
can show that it has been through gross overcharg
ing Two cases DO named, right here,
whore the charges for repairing vessels greater
than the vessels brought whom sold One English brig
brought 5000 less. The repairs the ship Telegraph
cost SIS. 600 more than the ship brought when sold
Our employers, some OF them, claim that they only
charge advance OF ten per cent what they pay u.s.
not employing the best OF them more than fifty men,
and the others not more than from five TO ten. An
other instance will to show that charges,
winch really charges per hour are not the cause Of
the trouble with some Of employers. There were
two sister schooners. the Ben and the John requiring
the repairs One was done here ut 81 per day
for work, and the other elsewhere Mt SO 80 per
day for the men, the New York costing $50 less
for precisely the work, because here 1t done
more rapidly.
In conclusion, say now, as we have said, that,
with far recognition OF services and honest deal
N NnVy Nnr
done here Yours respectfully,
THE NEW YORK CAULKERS.