Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-29
IN TRACTION YOKES.
Trouble Among Union Mold
. erS Over a Large Order.
WYLTE AVE. CABLE ROAD.
The First Contracts for the Iron
Work About to be Placed.
OLIVER BROS. MAY GET THE JOB.
Legislative Move to Tax All Alien Work
men Among Us.
WYLIE AVE. CABLE ROAD.
OLIVER BROS. MAY GET THE JOB.
INTERESTING BUDGET OF LABOR NEWS.

District Master Workman 1. n. Ross
yesterday issued call for a special meet
ing of L. A 1890, composed of iron molders,
of which Mr. Ross is the local Master
Workman. In the circular it was not
stated what the object of the meeting was,
but every member was requested to be on
hand "for the transaction of important busi-
ness to the craft.
When questioned in regard to the matter,
Mr.. Ross positively refused to state the OBJ
ject of the meeting, saying it was only a
slight matter of minor importance to the
molders, and under no consideration would
be say anything about it until after the
meeting. From another source however,
the news was gathered. The meeting is not
only of paramount Importance to the mold
ers. but to the firm of Oliver Bros. &
Phillips. 1t is also pretty nearly the COM
mencement of work on the Center and
Wylie avenue cable line, which is now SO
nearly an established fact
A well-known Knight of Labor, who is
member of the local, was seen last night
and asked in regard to the meeting. Like
the District Master Workman he was as
mum as an oyster, but when positively
assured his name should not be used, said:
WHY THIS UNUSUAL MOVE.
"Some time ago we had some trouble with
Oliver Bros & Phillips in regard to the
number of hours work to be done each day
in the molding shop. We held a special
meeting at the time and decided to allow no
union molder 10 work more than ten hours.
Piece work was also abolished, and the men
worked BY the day. At the time the firm
was rushed with work for the Fifth avenue
Traction Company, and, as it had to be
done in certain time, wanted the men to
work by the piece in order to stimulate
them to work harder. By doing this the
firm would get more work out of the men in
a given time.
"Several days ago the firm received re-
quest for bid on 5000 tons of 'yokes, to be
used on some new cable road in town.
think it is the Central Traction Company's
line, but would not say positively. The
'yokes' are the heavy frames which hold the
conduit in place, and have caused lot of
trouble in our assembly. When the 'yokes'
for the Fifth avenue and Penn avenue lines
were being made at number Of iron foun-
dries in town, they caused lots of grumbling
from the union men. At every meeting of
ta ba N, o}tnr anna ond
long time, the standing password into the
meetings was 'yokeS.'
FIGURING BOTH WAYS.
"wheu Oliver Bros & Phillips received
the request for a bid on the order, to be
completed within certain time, they noti-
fed their molders, and asked what the latter
would charge for making them by the piece.
a great many of the men strongly objected
to making them by the piece, and wanted
to do the work at their regular rate of
wages per day. A number who see big
money in the job, want to take so much per
woke and work as many hours each day as
they choose. As this is against the rule of
the union. the latter have asked for the
special meeting to bring the matter up
again.
IF we decide to accept pay for piece work
the rate per yoke will be fixed and the num-
ber of hours each man will be allowed to
work. We do not want TO break our own
backs by COMPRISING eight days work in a
week and getting the same amount of money
we would for six days. If wedecide to con-
tinue working by the day if the firm gets the
job, the company may object and try to
force the men to do piece work. In that
event there will be another strike. lido not
anticipate any trouble, however"
The ''yokes" are great heavy castings,
and when in the mold have to be moved
sometimes by the aid of crane. They
weigh 200 or 800 pounds, and on account of
their size great many men object to work
ing them by the piece. 1t takes two molders
and one helper whole day to make five of
them.
As the traction company has to begin
work in the early spring it will be neces-
ssry to turn the "yokes" out as rapidly as
possible. The order for the equipment of
the whole line will necessarily have to be
divided up among a number of iron
foundries. A great many of those in use on
the Fifth avenue and Penn avenue lines
were made in the East.
At the meeting this evening the officers of
the local assembly will be installed.
rprTHuT AcCOHTLTInN