Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-21
A FIGHT PROBABLE.

The ScnIe at Homestead Not satisfa Glory to
the workers-Both Sides Willing TO
Make Observation-Disclosures Letter.
There may be a strike at the Homestead
mills. and if there is fight it will be bitter
one, as the firm has practically issued their
ultimatum through Chairman W. L Abbott.
of Carnegie. Phipps & Co. The committee OF
the Amalgamatei Association expressed
willingness to make some concessions, but after
receiving the scale declined to hold any further
conferences. They were to have met yester-
day, but the workers committee did not ap-
pear. Mr.. Abbott had nothing to say on the
subject, except what he said in a letter to the
workers, which is given below:
CARNEGIE, PHIPPs & Co., LIMITED,
PITTsBURG, June r. 1883. !
Mr.. William Weihe President Amalgamated AS
sociatlon. l. and 5. W.:
DEAR SIB-When, on Tuesday last you asked
for and were given a copy Of the scale OF wages
submitted to our employees of the Homestead Steel
average reduction in the rates at present paid Of
approximately, 20 to 25 per cent:
1t was explained to you that the greater part of
| this cut was taken from the wages of those men
whose earnings are abnormally high, under ex-
Ss SU Se n
the special character Of the product Of the Home
In connection with the revised schedule of
wages is to be incorporated a sliding scale. To
this very important feature Of the change about
ss Psb All
| between labor and capital is removed. BY it
wages rise and fall with the market. The great
law OF supply and demand likes the value OF Ia.
bor, as It must necessarily regulate the product
My attention has to-day been called to the fact
| that the men at Homestead are circulating print
| ed copies of the scale that was given You. In
parallel column is published a the present TONNAGE mage
| contained in our copy, has been omitted from
| that the men have had printed.
prfa lv M n o. Of 0iIr
osition is impossible If all features Of the scheme
Permit me to submit some figures for your con-
| sideration. They show the wages that would
have hecs earned under the new sea e based upon
| the actual output o.; the Homestead Steel Works
for the month of May. 1889:
"a copy of the scale of prices folowsh
1t will be noted that the estimated prodt tlctper
othersthe % inch mill, for instance the reverse
is the case.
sideration to tie exhibit here mad3, and ask you
to point to any unfairnet.: DO noc these figures
be paid will be actually higher than paid elsewhere
by the leading Manufacturers of the country
ours:
1t is due to ourselves and to- our workmen that
our positi n and our aim in the action that has
| bee1 taken be clearly ded.ed AS the official
head of a greas and fnflue atial organization TO
ance briefly summarize the statement made to
you orallv.
First-TEe Homestead Steel Works cannot
longer be operated successfully under a scale of
wages established to apply to iron products, nor
and which did not contemplate the. use of appli-
ances and methods admitting of largely in
Of labor Thesa improved facilities were acquired
only through the outlay of large sum- of money,
on which capital we must have reasonable re-
turn.
Second-To placs ourselves upon an equality
with our leading competitors an average reduc-
imperative.
Third-As cure for the annual recurrence of
oil nd hQ fiefa ffo hlNyf
lowing the yearly agitation of the wage question,
and in the interests of our men quite as much as
Fourth-The scale adopted shall be operative for
not less than two and cne-haff years.
This action is not taken in antag gonism to organ
lied labor, but it has been forced upon us by the
unreasonable and short-sightcd demands Of that
roied is apt to be used to destroy Itself We rec-
ognize the right of every man to get for his serv
ployers, we purchase such service from the indi-
vidual or from an organization which controls him
Let it be known. therefore, that this association
has no quarrel with the Amalgamated Iron and
ergauzstion is prepsred to Consider o1p eonS yUSHl
tions as purchaser. 1t will afford us satisfaction
II otherwise. much as 1t is regretted, we shall
feel constrained to enter the open market and
avail ourselves of the numerous offers that have
But your immediate consideration of this matter
is necessary. Very respectfully,
WIN. L. ABBOTT, Chairman.
w 060 LQ6 AmdlRdlQaI6u -ASSOCldClOn COM
mittee met with the firm, they were asked if
they had power to act, and replied that they
had. The first conference was held on Wednes-
day, and before any business was done they
were given to understand that the following
three essentials would be insisted upon by the
firm: First, reduction and a material one;
second, sliding scale; third, that whatever
agreement should be reached, it was to con-
tinue in force at least ~ years.
The workers did not make any serious obiec-
tion to the second question, the only objection
being that they did not understand its work
1ngs and were in doubt as to Its effect. The OBJ
jected to the base of the scale, the firm de-
manding S25 and the Amalgamated Association
asking for ST 60 The firm stated that they
were willing to leave 1t to one man to establish
the average selling price and they would allow
the Amalgamated Association to name the
man. only provided that he be strictly honest
man. They named President Weihe, Secretary
Martin and Vice President Roberts.
The conference ended and nothing further was
done. The Amalgamated men were to have met
again yesterday afternoon. When DISPATCH
reporter called on Chairman Abbott he declined
to talk on the subject but intimated that there
might be fight. President Weihe, of the
Amalgamated Association, said he knew moth.
ing about the matter and had nothing to say.
1t is believed, however, that there will be
trouble, and strike involving $500 to $500
men will occur on July j.