Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-24
A STRIKE IS In VIEW.
It is a Predicted Outcome of Window
Glass Workers Hitch.
THE MEN WANT NO REDUCTION,
And the Manufacturers Aver They Cannot
Pay the Scale.
THE CONFERENCE Is ADJOURNED


trouble between the window glass manufac-
turers and workers over the wage scale. A
strike is said to be imminent. The men
have made demand for higher wages, and
say they will have it enforced. Their en-
plcyers have proposed reduction in wages,
and they just as loudly say they will insist
With two wage scales hanging in the air,
and one side as determined as the other, the
matter will hang fire for sometime. If it is
not arranged satisfactorily before the be-
ginning Of the next fre-about September 1
the men will go on a strike, they say.
A meeting of the Wage Committees of
the manufacturers and workers was held
yesterday at the Monongahela House. 1t
was supposed on Monday that, owing to the
absence of Secretary Loeffier and others of
the manufacturers committee, who were in
the East, the conference would be postponed
until Thursday. They got home in time,
however, and, with the exception of Presi-
dent Catiin, of the Manufacturers Associa-
tion, all members IF the employers commit
tee, were present.
DETAILS OF THE SPLIT.
The manufacturers were represented by
William Loefier, G. W. Phillips and 7. o.
@. Campbell, Pittsburg; w. T. Gray, of
GAINESVILLE, o., and l.. Mambourg, of Fos-
toria, o. The workers were represented by
James Campbell, L. L. Conaway, w. II.
Slicker, Daniel Winters, H. d. Swenrer,
Mr.. Jones and Mr.. Springer. The confer
ence organized by the election of Mr.. Phil
lips chairman of the joint committee, with
I. o. G. Campbell and w. H. Slicker, as
secretaries. After discussing the situation
and outlook for three hours, an adjourn
ment was had for dinner.
In the afternoon meeting, the serious
business of the conference was entered into
by the workers demanding the 50-cent
single bracket advanced to 56 cents, and re-
fusing to allow any double sheets to be
booked below 81 10 bracket. This would
be an advance of y per cent on the sc"
bracket single, and equal to So per cent
advance of double sheets of eight-tenths to
twelve-eighteenths quality. In addition to
this, they demanded the straight list with
out any discount off or on. During the last
two wears there was 10 per cent of the list
and then per cent added, and therefore
the straight" list means 8 per cent ad-
vance.
The manufacturers on the other hand, at
first asked for 10 per cent reduction, but
finally offered to compromise by 5 per
cent reduction from last years wages. This
offer was declined by the workers, they
stating that the proposition they made is
their ultimatum.
Finding il impossible to agree, the con-
ference adjourned to meet August 13. In
the meantime, the workers will submit
their scale for signature to the individual
manufacturers throughout the Western dis
trict.
The above is Secretary Loefaer's official
report of the meeting. When asked what
he thought the outcome of the matter would
be, Mr.. Loeffier said:
''You can quote me, II you wish to, as
saying that do not think one manufac-
turer will sign the workers scale. Further
than this I do not care to express any
opinion as to whether or not there will be
any strike"
BOTH SIDES CALL IT BLUFF.
One of the Manufacturer Committee was
asked the same question. The gentleman
said: '"rhe workers committee made the
assertion that they would present their scale
to the individual manufacturers, without re-
This bluff means that they will entirely ig-
more the association, and particularly the
manufacturers who were present to-day.
They think by doing this they will be able
to break the organization. This has been
done in other associations, but 1 do not
think it will work in the window glass trade.
Chambers & Mckee, who are not in our
association, set a questionable example
by submitting an individual scale to
the workers. This scale was an
increase over the scale presented by US, and
the workers are ready to take advantage of it.
Nothing would please the Jeanette people
better than to have lockout among the men
in Pittsourg and the West. They could
then put all the glass they wanted on the
market, and get good prices for it This
might break the strike, as the manufacturers
here are not to be caught that way"
Members of the workers association said
the manufacturers would not succeed in
their bluff. Two years ago the manufactur-
ers demanded and got 10 per cent discount
from the regular scale. Last year the manu-
facturers restored this to per cent, and now
they want the original scale. When it comes
to aquestion OF allowing the Eastern factories
to run while the Western men are idle, the
latter will sign the scale soon enough, it is