Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-24
IN LABOR CIRCLES.
The GlassWorkers Emphaticaliy Refuse q
Reduction.

The Glassworkers Emphatically Refuse .
Reduction.
! A meeting of the Flint Glass Workers
Union washeld Sunday afternoon at Pitts
burg, in Fralers' Hall, near Thirty-eighth
street. on Penn avenue. Over 200 members
were in attendance among whom were rep
resentatives from almost every district in
the United States. The question concern
ing the recent reduction in the scale of
prices for flint glass workers was thoroughly
discussed. Each visiting representative re-
lated the prevailing disposition of his re-
spective order, all giving glowing &C
count of their financial standing, and ad-
yising the men of their districts to maintain
the grounds taken BY them and hold
out against the reduction to the last.
The fight as it now stands is centered upon
this locality. The reduction was proposed
in almost all of the western glassworks but
when it was discovered that the employees
connected with the union would not submit
! teatheRsE scale, the -natiGep of reduction
were withdrawn. A few of the glass manu-
facturers outside of this district, who were
unable to continue in operation under the
old rates or scales gave notice that the
works would be closed down, but that no
reduction would be asked The Parker
City works, which is portion of this
order has also closed down: Tibbys
factory, of Mansfield, Ohio, is now
entirely out Of the fight, and no re-
duction has been required of the men
employed. but the factory is only running
one furnace. Among the leading factories
which have withdrawn their notice of re-
duction are the Ottawa, ILL.,, the Leetsdale
works and the North Wheeling bottle works.
The entire fraternity Of glassworkers are in
deep sympathy with this order, and have
promised them assistance should it be nec
es ary. The union has again decided not
to accept the profiered scale, and the men
say they will stay out on the strike to the
bitter end rather than submit Upon this
fight rests the strength OF the entire union.
Should they be compelled to enter the shops
and work at the reduced scale it would tend
to mitigate the power OF the union in the
future. This fact is recognized by each dis
trict therefore encouraging them to render
aid in this contest.
Hamilton's works, Pttsburg, are still in
operation, but the work is being performed
by the apprentices, who are bound by con-
tract to remain at work. Although some
OF these novices in the business are said to
be in sympathy with the union men, yet
they cannot assist them as they would be
subject to a heavy loss of money which is
retained from their wages by agreement
The union thoroughly investigated the
papers of contracts between the apprentices
and their employers, and came to the con
clusion that nothing could be done with
them. No flaw could be discovered by
which they could release the boys, and so it
was decided not to attempt to have the
boys enter the contest. The meeting, in
taking action upon the question, determined
| not to listen to a compromise Of any kind,
but to hold on for the regular scale. The
eastern manufacturers are anXiously await
ing to hear how this fight will terminate,
and should the union be unsuccessful the
entire east will undergo general cut down
in all its glassworks. But as yet however,
| they have done nothing toward pulling
down the wages