New-York tribune., 1884-02-04
A YEAR OF MANY STRIKES
TROUBLES IN EIGHTEEN TRADES.

RESULTS OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS
AND woRKISGMEN IN THE CITY IN 1888.
The wear 1883 was memorable for the num-
Der and magnitude of Its strikes At no time since Ap
15 when the carpenters and cgarmakers MADE uemsno
for higher wages was there week In which some "orA
ingmep not out on strike.
Tho carpenters resolved the middle Of April that tns
rate Of wages should be 50 80 day instead OF w.
majority of the employers granted the demand at once
but held for several days. and II was not un
April 20 the strike declared settled There were
about 900 out for terms ranging from TO IL days
Ten thousand dollars would probably cover the entre loss
Of wages by the strike.
At the same time the cgarmakers employed on DO
mestic cigars about 10000 in number gave notice 10
their employers that they should expect an advance OF
from TO two dollars thousand ON and after May l.
when the reduction OF SO thousand In the internal
revenue tax went into effect. few OF the
manufacturers promised the advance Dut hosI
OF the larger firms resisted aud not until May 10
that the last manufacturer conceded the advance Ihe
success OF the strike encouraged the Cgarmakers
Progressive Union, whose membership includes most OF
that class OF workmen, that number OF small strikes
were begun in different shops for the most trivial causes
At last thirteen Of largest manufacturers formed an
association for mutual protection, under the Dya"S VI
which, when strike against the employment OF men De
longing the International Union was begun IN the lac
tory OF Gutenberg Co, general lockout was ordered
work. The lockout ended August Ia the complete
discontinue OF the union 1t would be impossible TO do
more than approximate the amount lost in wages by the
original strike. 1t would be within limits 10 say that
1 200 men and women lost months wages, however
which at Sl2 a week. fair average, would be about
S57 800 BY the lockout 5000 workmen lost wages
making total OF about 100000 That the wages could
have been adjusted satisfactorily without strike IL
proved by that OF the largest firms left the
matter TO an arbitration committee, and
It's men got larger increase In pay
than the strikers without losing hours work. There
have been small strikes OF cigar makers during
the year
the factories which manufactured socaled Havana
cigars demanded an advance Of 81 thousand. ON the
27h the employers conceded the advance The loss or
wages was about 10000 the average earnings OF the
men being about $40 week
The next strike in the trade that OF the 500
male and female cgarete-makers In the employ OF the
Kinney Tobacco Company. This strike collapsed at the
end Of three weeks without tho advance leaving the
strikers out OF pocket $1,000 through loss OF wages
Fifteen hundred cigarbo1 makers struck on November
H. in order their employers to recognize the
union They orsoOk the union and returned TO work en-
November25 The wages Of cgarbOx maker are
$40 week The thirteen days ldeness cost the strikers
nearly $4,000 loss OF wages and two small previous
strikes would bring the sum above that figure
The houscpainters asked for advance Of fifty cents
day on April II. They got without striking IN ma
joy OF cases. though not until April "a that the
last employer agreed to the advance The uen dc not
leave work
About 400 laborers employed in the weghers' Depart
mant Of the Custom House struck because
Collector Robertson declined to give them
an advance OF 10 cents an hour for this work. They
claimed that the then ruling, % cents they were
not able to make than from SO to $40 week The
matter was referred to the proper authorities in Washing
ton and the offered an advance OF cents an
hour which they accepted returning to work on May 3d.
There was loss Of wages the work had accumulated
and the men had TO work overtime.
THE TROUBLES OF SUMNER AND FALL.
On Nav 500 coal shoveers asked an advance OF one
cent ton for shoyelng coal The advance conceded
on May 6. the men losing no time.
outside Of a few small strikes Of cigarmalers there
was no trouble In June Early in July, however there
were signs of uneasness the telegraph operators
throughout the country which eliminated on July l5
when committee OF the Telegraphers Brotherhood
waited on the officers Of the western Union and other
telegraph companies with bin OF grievances which de-
manded an increase in wages shorter hours OF work. and
a recognition Of the brotherhood The demands were
refused and long. bitter struggle began. For time
the telegraphc business Of the country greatly
barrassed The number Of men and women on strike
throughout this country and Canada was estimated
AZ between 1900 and $4,000, OF whom
about 1900 were in this city Tho American
Rapd and one OF two Of the smaller companies granted
the demands Of the strikers cOndonaly. The western
Union and Baltimore and Ohio Companies persisted IN
their REFUSAL and August II Master-Worl1man Camp
bell who had charge CT thr strike officially declared II
failure ordered the operators TO 50 back to their keys
He calculated the loss OF wages throughoG; tho country
at not less than 100000 In this city the strikers
ont Of pocket not less than $4,000 After the failure OF
the strike number OF the operators found their places
filed and we're out Of work for several months.
vnd IN NE n
BROOKLYN shore Of the East River $50 in number
demanded al In pay OF from twenty cents to
twenty-five cents an hour on July 49, They remained
out until July 25 when the advance was granted and
thew returned to work The average earnings Of the
soremeu were from S. so $40 week before the strike.
The loss OF wages was therefore about $4,000.
The dress and cloak makers made demand for an adj
vance in pay and shorter working hours on July 10.
They had been working fort 80 to SIS week, ndln
order 10 earn that amount forced 70 work from
twelve to fifteen hours day. They demanded that ten
hours should constitute days work and the scale Of
wages ould. be so arranged that SIS week
snoun be the lowest wages. The employers
eseed an advance Of twenty-five per cen.
in wages which was refused and August the full de-
man ds were conceded. There altogether about
OOC men and women strike. Most OF the large firms
gS'c gram aoprctor holding out the Longest The loss Of
Uacs may safely be estimated mt not less than $4,000
Early in the spring the trades employed II house building
general union under the Ofth Amagamaed
RuiIdug Trades Union. Under its constitution all mat
ters affecting the trades referred 10 central coun
ell consisting OF delegates from all the unions. this
council alone having the power TO order strikes Each
trade pledged itself to strike when 80 ordered by the
council On August was begun series OF strikes under
the orders OF the Amagamated Union which continued
trot gh the OF tho year. majority Of the strikes
havebeen against the employment OF non,nnon men
A. FIRST the unions uniformly successful, and the
srkes were short Duration The first serious reverse
was on August Is when the walking OF the unions
ordered strike on the Dakota fiat house, at Seventy
scondst and Eiglsve because OF Contractor Powers
rcfusai 10 discharge some nOn-uniOn men. The men
were also ordered out other buildings on
tbs Clarke estate, which owns the Dakota.
The strike has not settled yet One OF the results OF
this strike the withdrawal OF the Framers Union
from the Amalgamsted Union On August II strikes
were ordered on all the buildings under the control Of
Contractor John Tucker OF thA largest builders IN
the city his refusal to discharge nonnlon men Ihe