Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-22
GLASSWORKERS THIS TINE.

The A. Flint Glass Workers. Union Compels
Former Which Benefited the Employees.
Another strike was initiated yesterday
morning, this time among the flint glass
blowers. One hundred and fifty men and
boys employed at O'Hara's flint glass works
at Thirtieth street and the Allegheny Val
lev Railroad, turned in when the whistle
blew at o'clock, and almost Immediately
turned out again.
The difference between the men and the
firm is owing to the use by the latter of q
former, which facilitates the operation of
fashioning the slip" on the ordinary glass
pitcher. This "Iormer" has been used in
the works for the last seven or eight years.
1t is made of metal and shaped similarly to
the interior OF the pitcher. Before it was
introduced by the firm the unfinished article
was taken from the hands of the presser and
gstherer by boy, who, after reheating it in
the glory hole, handed it over to ''fnisher, T"
whose business 1t was to manipulate it into
a cylindrical shape, fashion the handle and
turn out the lip. Under this plan the oper-
atives took all the responsibility OF the
work.
If it was not properly done it could be
broken up. and Of course no pay allowed for
it. About 800 pitchers are usually turned
out in day, and the entire 500, ii not prop
erly rounded and finished, would be de-
stroyed, the men being at the loss. To OBJ
viate the loss of time from this cause the
former was introduced.
The boy, after reheating the half finished
pitcher, instead of turning it over to the fin-
isher for manipulation into shape by hand,
pressed it down on the former, when the lip
was formed and the vessel given a perfectly
round shape. On this arrangement the firm
took all responsibility for inferior work, and
the result was an increased output and cor
responding gain to the men. The "fnisher"
was dispensed with, but not his services; he
was provided with other work. O'Hara' 8 men
OF themselves did not take exception to the
use of the former, they were quite inclined
to see it in use because they found their ad-
vantage in the increased output.
1t is said that the present action of the
Flint Glass Workers Union is the outcome
ofthe late strike at Tifin, which was brought
about by the introduction of plug for mold
ing eight inch dishes. Two of O'Hara's
former employees are shareholders in the
Tifin Company, and remembering that the
former was in use at the O'Hara works, an
adjustment of the difficulty was arranged on
the understanding that the union would
take action against that firm for using it.
This, then, is the cause of the present diff
iculty. The A. G. W. Union held meet
ing on the question last week, and on Sun
day evening the glass workers held lengthy
session to decide on their action. Itwas un.
derstood that the O'Hara men were strongly
opposed to going out, but they were finally
ruled by the executive.
When the men appeared at the works yes
terday morning they asked the foreman to
dispense with the former. He said he could
not do so without authority from the firm,
none of which were present, They then re-
quested that boy should at least occupythe
fnisher's seat at rate of 50 per day SO as to
smooth over the difficulty, but this also the
foreman declined to do without authority.
The men then left, saying they had no op-
ton but remain out.
The firm when seen Yesterday had not yet
decided upon any course Of action. They
claim that since the former has been in use
for seven or eight years without any Difficult
ties occurring on the head of it, ana since in
stead of dispensing with man they were at
present in want of good tinisher, that the
action of the union is incomprehensible.
When the packers have gotten through with
their work they will be idle until the works
start up again.
Indications would pointto lengthy tussle
between the firm and the union. The firm
feels itself aggrieved, and holds that a prin-
ciple is involved which they cannot well
concede, while the union charges that the
firm has disregarded the scale of last Decem-
ber in employing boy to do a mans work,
and in dispensing with man in the position
Of inisher.