Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-18
MAINE GRANITE WORKERS.
fts Work In Maine a. Evidenced II
Wages and Homes.

/ The following interesting information NJ
sariing organizations. wages, etc, anon,
the granite workers in Maine, comes from
the bureau Of Industrial and Labor Statistic,
as part of the annual report of the commits
sioner
The Granite Cutters National Union wa,
organized At Rockland. Me-, March ioth
1871. lts first secretary vas Hon. Thomp.
son IL. Murch, Who served the Union until
his election to Congress in 1873. Josiah Il.
| Dyer was his successor and has continued in
office up to the present time, his official resi.
dence being Barre, Vermont.
The objects of this union A. set forth in
the constitution are a. follows; TO rsise
ourselves to that condition in society to which
ve, as mechanics. are justly entitled and TO
| place ourselves on foundation sufficiently
strong to secure us from further cncrosch-
| ments and to elevate the moral, social and
Intellectual condition Of every stone worker
in the country" At the fret. the union was
largely confined to Maine. where were then
. great many stone cutters employed on gov
ernment contracts At Dix Island, Clark's Is
land. Hurricane Island and Vinal Haven
Under these circumstances the union started
out with very bright prospects. but u strike
Haven, coming as II did before the union Was
fairly organised, proved very injurious to
its early success and usefulness This
strike followed by the great strikes At
Quincy, Mass and at other places, gave the
Union severe blow. but time and expert.
ence with thorough organization and more
conservative ideas in the management, have
united in placing the Union in the front rank
Of the labor organizations of the country.
The membership includes nearly all OF their
craft and large number Of tool sharpcners
who are also eligible. The membership of
the Union at the present time 10 about 5000,
included in l02 branches. embracing almost
every State and Territory in the Union.
This 10 gain since January. 1885, of 55
branches and S742 members. Maine has
10 branches with a membership of about
1000, one-sixth of the total membership aud
about one seventh Of the total number Of
branches. These branches are located ~
follows; Portland, Waldoboro, Round
Pond. Hallowell, Spruce Head. Clark's
Island, Long Cove, Hurricane. Belfast,
Long Island, East Blue Hill. Green's Land
ing, VinAl Haven, Mt. Waldo and South
Thomaston. Great strides have been made
by the Union. within the past few
years, in the way of increasing
wages, reducing the hours of labor, etc. No
attempt has ever been made by the Union TO
establish u uniform number of hours for a
days work, all over the country although
something may be looked for in that direc-
ton before long. OF the l02 branches at
the present time, two work ~ hours per
week. average days wages s2.9l; 22 work
52 hours per week (Which is nine hours n
day, with eight on Saturday, average days
wages % 80; ii work 50 hours per week,
average day wages, So SO; u work 80 hours
per week, average day wages s2.s7 i-2; 80
work 80 hours per week. average daily wage
~ 30; IL work 60 hours per week, average
daily wage 81. OF the branches in Maine,
6 work SO hours per week, with an average
daily wage Of e2 ST; 4 work IS hours. with
an average of S2.75; 2 work 30 hours with
an average wage of 81 10; works 80 hours
with an average Of o. 80, and two work 60
hours with an average wage Of ~. 80 per day.
Long hours and poor pay, short hours and
good pay is what is clearly proven by these
figures.
Union the standard wage is SO per day and
upwards, ten Of them having a standard of
-. There are but five branches that have
81, 80 for the standard days wage, three of
these being In Maine.
No strikes of any importance have occur
red in this branch of the granite business In
Name for some time, a condition which
speaks well for the conservative mana cement
and good business methods of the Union.