The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-21
THE FREsPoRT STRIKE.
Many Words which Have Failed to
Effect a settlement.

At an interview Mr.. III. FL. Shaw had
Thursday with his former employees, who
are out on strike, they requested him to sub
NIT to them a written proposition Of the
terms on which the firm would receive them
back. Mr. Shaw submitted the following
proposition:
FREEroRT, December 10, 1882.
We will receive back into our employ, indIyIdu-
ally and each for himself, as many of our former
employees AS II is possible 10 place, consistent
with our agreement with others who have come
into our employ since they went out. on the fol-
lowing terms.
Prices for experienced operatives to be the
same as were In force previous to the I1th day of
December, 1853; each person re-entering our
employ TO sign an agreement that while IN our
employ they will conform to the rules aud regula-
tions OF the factory; that they will not Interfere
wltn or hinder any pers N or forem IN In tue per-
rectly.
We further agree to take back three-fourths OF
all our former experienced operatives Within
seven days an all the rest as soon as possible on
these terms. A. w. SHAW & Co.
In reply to the firms proposition the
strikers sent to the firm the following
proposition:
FREEPoRT, December 20, 1889;
proposition submitted to the firm Of A. w.
Shaw & Co., by their former employees:
. Art. 1.-The Il m to restore all rersons who left
", L.,
to their old positions. without discrimination, on
or before Monday, December 20, 1889.
Art. 2.-rhe question Of prices to be the same
as were in free before the so-called new work
was introduced. the same to remain In force for
one year from .daIe.
Art. 3-The f,m 20 discharge all persons hired
right to hire and teach new help, providing the
hiring and teaching Of new hep does not 0Dlige
the thee old help Up 70 remain idle by taking work away
Art 4-The firm shall have the privilege Of dis
charging any persons for the following causes:
Drunkenness, poor work, or insulting language tO
the superintendent. foreman or f,relady.
Art b 6-The trm Is privileged to conduct their
business Ia all It's b. anchrs without interference.
whatever by their employees according to the let
ter and spirit the above proposition.
Art Sine above proposition to become
bluding agreement upon signatures by both par
ties, sad agreement 10 be the only agreement
which the former employees shall be asked ~
sign.
To this the firm has sent the following re-
ply:
FREEPoRT, December %, 1889.
To Our Former Employees:
The proposlt on YOU submit in answer to ours o,
yesterday Is received. We respectfully answer:
Art I've cannot now restore all persons b.
their old positions some are filled by competent
help. We will employ as may Of you as possible.
consistent with our existing OBLIGATIONS o others;
II you see fit to return individually, conforming u
cember 23rd, $50, the date you .rescribed.
Art. 2.-Prices for skilled help and also for
learners are as Wnen you iett.
Art 3.-The persons who b I'VE engaged with Us
since you left, came on precisely the same condi-
ti0ns under which you entered our employ a, q
are entitled 10 tue same fair and no lorable treat
ment. We shall not discharge them If they prove
honest, competent and faithful. We think we
now possess the unrestricted right" TO hire such
help as we can agree with.
Art. 4.-You say "the firm shall have the prlvi-
lege of discharging any person for drunkenness,
poor work or using lnsu ting language 20 the su
peribtendent, foreman or forelady." II we were
obliged to accept these very generous restrictions
any employe might 20 and come at his pleasure.
work one-balf hour each day instead Of II hours,
might quarrel and fight with every other em
poye. keep others waiting for the work he oughi
TO do, silently defy and insult the firm aud com.
NIT the most glarlng Outrages against the rules
aud regulations OF the shop. but II he kept sober
and SILENT doing his little work well we could moi
remove him under The letter and spirit Of your
proposition set forth in your Article Five
The privileges gra ted by this article do not i'm
press us as large favor. The whole proposition
being the original claim you made Of the right %
prescribe rules, regulations and restrictions for
our business and to dictate whom we shall and
snail not plOy ana how we snail manage out
busi ness, we respectfully decline TO treat upon H.
Yours very respectfully
A. w. SHAW 81 Co.