The Republican journal., 1886-04-08
The Norway Boycott.

A HISTORY OF THE TRou BILE WITH TIE FERN
OF b. +. SPINNEI \ co.
The recently reported settlement of the
troubles existing between b. f. Spinney 4
Co., the Norway shoe manufacturers, and the
Knights Of Labor, and Mr.. Spinncys state
ment that he knew Of nothing of the kind,
have revived public interest in the firms rela-
tions with that organization. The announce
mcnt that national boycott had been ordered
by the Knights of Labor upon the firm of b. F
SpnneN n 60. of Norway has naturally created
the belief that the firm had been having serious
trouble with that organization, and that it was
because of this that boycott had been dcclar-
ed The original trouble began with the for
nation OF LasterS Union at NORWAY last
summer and the subsequent demand that the
firm should advance the pay of its lasterS %
cents per case. This was a discrimination
against the firm, because it compelled it to pay
Just that amount more for its work than any
other shoe manufacturers in the State We're do
ny, but the contract then entered into was
faithfully observed for the stipulated length OF
time. When the summer run of work was
lnlshed the entire factory was shut down for q
short time, and all the hands Were discharged
but, when it started up on the winter run OF
work, no discrimination was made among the
hands who applied for work. Some of the
lasters, however knowing that the firm had
decided to remove all its work to Norway to
escape the effect of the labor unions in Lynn
did not offer to return to work and thus allow
ed the shop again to become non-lnion one
After their places had been filed by new men
Il committee from these union lastcrS waited
upon Mr. Chase, the local member of the firm
and asked to be reinstated, but We're informed
that there We're no vacancies. Feeling az
greVed that the new lasters We're not discharg-
Ell and themselves rcinStated the men then
having become members of the knights of La
Dor, sought to get even with the firm BY hay
ing Il boycott declared against it. This the
Lynn knights at once favored, because the
firm had removed its business from MaSSa-
chu>etts, and by their influence the Maine
Knights We're finally induced to ask for Ma
tlonal boycott against the firm.
What grievances the District Executive
Board found to settle with the firm after
talking the situation over with Mr.. Chase may
perhaps appear from an anal ysiS of the agree
ment submitted for the firm to sign. That
agreement asks: First, that the price list sub
mitted by Mr.. Daley for lasting in the old shop
shall be the price-ist for the above firm for the
time stated in this agreement. and that all 9th
er prices now paid by the firm, in both shops,
including lasting in the new shop. shall remain
the same. Mr.. Daley's price list was maintain
ed by the firm for the time originally agreed
upon, after which ii was revised by the firm to
make it bear more equally upon the different
classes of work. No goods now made are sim
liar to those made by the firm in Lynn. The
second demand was that all Knights of Labor
shall be reinstated in their old places, and in
hiring new help Knights of Labor shall have
the preference. No Knights of Labor have, it
is asserted, ever been discharged by the firm,
and, moreover, in hiring men no questions are
asked regarding their membership in the or
ganization. The third demand was that all
employees shall be paid weekly and in cash.
This has always been done by the firm, as Mr..
Chase declares. The other demands were,
fourth, any employe may be discharged for in
competency, such eases to be decided upon by
the agent of the shop and the local Executive
Board; fifth, that the price list and agreements
herein contained shall be binding upon both
parties until October l, 1886. None of the con-
cessions asked have been under consideration
by the members of the firm, who maintain that
if they can deal with the different labor organ
izations rs a Maine firm dealing with an organ
lzation having the interests of the State at
heart the present MISUNDERSTANDING can be
easily adjusted. But if they say the Maine
Knights of Labor are to be influenced by MEM
bers of the order desirous of driving the busi-
ness from the State the matter appears in far
different light [C. L. M. in Boston Journal.