Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-24
THE CARBON STRIKE.
Conference Yesterday Between the Com-
pany and lCommItfee of Organized
Labor-What Was Accomplished.

Conference Yesterday Between the Com-
pauy and n fCOmmItfee Of ORGANIZED
Labor-What Was Accomplished.
conference between the Allegheny County
Light Company and committee representing
the labor organizations and the Electrical
Union was held yesterday afternoon. No
agreement has as yet been arrived at. There
were present, on behalf of the company, Her
man H Westinghouse. Manager Baxter and
superintendent Naysmith, and as a committee,
John E. O'Shea. Secretary Martin, Of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers. c. P. Du Ross, John Fies. Frank Cur
rier, Charles Fitzwilliams and James K. Mill
man.
Mr.. o'Shea stated that the conference had
been asked for to devise some means whereby
the impending dispute might be settled, and
suggested that a scale pe drawn y up unaer
70 occur in the future. Nj. O'Shea asked Mr.
Westinghouse to explain the causes that led
up to the difficulty of last August and to state
the arrangements that had been entered into
between the company and the American Fed
Grafton of Labor
Mr.. Westinghouse deputed the task to Mr..
Blaxter, who SAID that prior to August the
company had four men in its employ to whom
they were not paying the regular wages, ";
they were getting only 81 20; that the COM
mittee called upon the company to pay these
men the regular rate or discharge them; that
the company refused to do this and the men
struck. A verbal settlement was subsequently
arrived at, by which the company was to rein
state the men who had struck; that it had SO
done with the exception of three
Mr.. O'Shea wanted to know If these three
men were not reinstated because OF their con-
nection with uniOn2 To this Mr.. Blaxter
would not reply directly. but stated that there
were several reasons why they should not bere-
employed.
The phase of the present difficulty was then
discussed, and when the matter had been re-
ferred TO at some length Mr. O'Shea desired to
know If the Electrical Union had intimated TO
the company its objection to working with the
three men referred to. Mr.. Blaxter denied hav-
ing received official intimation OF the fact, but
admitted that committee Of three had called
upon him and proffered request that the
three Objectionable men be discharged He
SAID that be had asked the committee to put
the request in writing, but this they refused to
do for reasons best known to themselves, and
the men then went out on strike.
In reply Mr.. Carrier, OF the electrical Union,
said that the reason they had not made the
formal request in writing was because they sus-
pected there might be some catch in the matter.
Mr.. OSbea then asked Mr.. Blaxter If be had
any reason to suppose that the men on strike
had contemplated, OF would make, any attempt
on the property of the company, or in any way
injure its business. To this Mr.. Baxter de-
clined to make any reply
Mr. Martin desired to know from Mr.. Blax-
ter if a tacit agreement did not exist between
the committee and the company, under which
the three men who had been discharged during
the August difficulty should be taken back, but
Mr.. Blaxter denied this.
Mr.. O'Shea then suggested that contract be
drawn up between the committee and the COM
pany. to remain in force for one year, binding
both parties TO give due notice of any grieV-
anceS that might exist. before any strike or lock-
out should mentioned. This was discussed for
some time, and then Mr.. Westinghouse said
that for his part he had no objections to his
men organizing as they might see fit, and that
1t was immaterial to him whether the men en-
Ployed by his company were organized or not.
lie asked the committee to draw up contract
as suggested and submit it to the company.
This will be done and placed before the COM
pany at another meeting Thursday next
Subsequently the committee met at Amalga-
mated headquarters and drew up a contract to
be submitted at the Thursday meeting. 1t is
understood that it contains a clause providing
that every man in the employ of the company
shall, owing to the dangerous character Of his
work, abstain from the use of intox1cants dur
ing his Nrnrkinn hn11rs