Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1889-09-05
NO. 2l78
A BIG STRIKE ON,
MANUFACTURERS WELL NOE
GWEN.
aasaer W0rltmen GOfEey viii NoR
BE Permitted 80 Talk ssusi-
ness With 7sanU-
RsasfEsrerS

/ Much that was done by the manu-
facturers at Philadelphia Tuesday is
being made public. There were twen-
ty-two manufacturers present and the
result Of their deliberations was such
as to make the workers think seriously.
No firm of any Importance, has
agreed to the demands made by the
blowers or is likely to do so,n said a
manufacturer
| Being asked TO state what some of
the demands were that the manufac-
turers objected to, d prominent MEM
| Der of the Association said;
| Last year the men worked with
two apprentices to a furnace; now
they refuse to allow more than one.
which is one to about fifteen Journey
men. They demand in a case where
a manufacturer reduces his business
because of poor demand or for other
cause, that certain portion of the in
dentured apprentices shall be dis
charged, no matter how nearly they
have learned their trade, they demand
that no one snail run Ii factory unless
employing 90 per cent. journeymen;
they refuse to work moulds unless
these moulds have been made by
Knights OF Labor; they require that
! the pressmen, who work in the same
! building with themselves shall be
members of the Pressmens' Union, and
that the boys who gather glass for the
pressmen shall be paid not less than a
certain amount per day, which is 200
per cent. in advance of what was pre-
viously paid; they also demand the
payment of $50 per week on account
of their earnings and the balance when
called for; heretofore they had been
getting $24 semi-nonthly on account
of their wages, with settlements
monthly"
| A few more facts cleaned about the
meeting showed that the nlanufac-
turers were not disposed to treat with
John Coffey, the Master Workman of
District Assembly No. 149, the recog.
nized leader of the men in the present
controversy. ut was regularly decided
not to treat with Coffey in any manner
whatever sold the member of the
association just quoted. The manu-
facturers will not have anything to do
with Coffey, and the men need not
expect conference with US if he is to
represent them"
Have you made any arrangements
to confer with the mem"
None whatever. The meeting to,
day adjourned for three months. The
blast ought to begin next week, but,
owing to the trouble, the men will re-
main idle. When they work they
average from So to So a day for 10
months in the year, and this will be
lost to them"
is it likely then that the men and
factories will remain idle for three
mouths p
"Yes, fully that, unless the men yield
on more points Than one and give up
Coffey. In all probability, however
the contest will probably be as stub
born, for a time at least, as that of two
years ago. The manufacturers are in
better position to resist the demands
OF the men now than they were then.
There is an abundant stock on hand
/ and the Western manufacturers will
fill orders for US when we can't"
1t is estimated that there are 1000
tN1 J.
District, and that 1000 or 5000 other
men and boys are dependent upon
them for work. The blowers are skill
led workmen, who get good pay, and,
as it takes long while for an appren-
! tice or novice to become competent
| journeyman, it is difficult for the en-
| ployers to obtain men in the places
/ of those they now employ when any
stands it means that each side will try
/ to tire the other out, and that the fac
tories will remain idle in the meantime.
J The men have contended heretofore
That they did not ask for any change
in wages or in the apprenticeship
r. gutatious. TIE apprenticeship cues
tion is ID serious one with them. for
the reason that they fear any attempt
to increase the number of apprentices
will eveni u"i|y result in such II compe-
tltion of skilled wurkineu as will make
iAe .5las~hlow'ng Industry Improbable
and undesirable. They argue that the
| work Is SucN that "a MANS life * short
ened and his ability to work reduced
after limited number of years, so
that in the end. compared with other
tradesmeD, he does not make so much
after all. Already, it is said they
have the assurance from the flint glass
men, who have gone 10 work, and the
window glass men, who are contem-
plating strike, that they will not
cross each other in the present strus-
gle.