Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-09
WILLING TO STRIKE.
officials of the Building Trades Say
All Will be Involved
IF CONTRACTORS FORCE AN ISSUE.
Miners Difficulties Have Been Settled for .
Year, at Least.
THE JEANETTE CASE TO BE TESTED

The officials of the various trades unions
confirm the report published in yesterday
DISPATCH, that the building trades may
yet strike for the adoption of the eight-hour
system. Agent Swartz, of the carpenters,
said yesterday there would be nothing done
until the contractors attempt to work non
union men. Then the matter will be taken
up and if the builders force strike the men
Will demand shorter hours. Agent Beck
said il the strike occurred it would involve
ali of the trades and several thousand men.
The fact is the union men are determined
not to work with non-union men, and the
trades are even now becoming involved in
difficulties. The timers strike is proving
stubborn fight. On the one hand the mas
ter timers are backed bv the Builders
Exchange. and on the other the men are
supported by the other trades affected. The
Executive Committee announced yesterday
that IS shops have agreed to the wages and
the nine hour proposition, and about 48
men have returned to work. There are,
therefore, over 250 men still out on a strike.
A meeting of the journeymen will be held
tonight to discuss the matter.
LIKELY TO MAKE TROUBLE.
There is an intense feeling among all the
building trades. and little more agitation
is likely to create trouble. The plumbers,
to the number OF $50 or 800, went out yester-
iay because oil the refusal of the bosses to
concede the clause in the list of demands
providing that an apprentice shall serve
three years as a helper and two years at the
disposal of the employer before his trade is
complete. The journeymen refused 10 60 to
work Yesterday morning, but before noon
four firms had conceded the demands in
every particular, and the men returned to
work in the afternoon. The firms who gave in
were: j. B. Gordon, of the East End; 81.
T. Olnhausen, ofthe Southside; S. j. Addy.
of Allegheny; John Wise, of Alle-
ghenv, and j. F. Dowdle. of the East
End. 1t is stated, however, that these are
not members of the Master Plumbers
Association, and that no firms, in the asso-
citation will grant the demands, unless given
permission to do so by the association. The
principal fight seems to be on two of the
firms who it is said try to run their shops
with boys, and the journeymen plumbers
propose to compel them to employ COM
petent workmen. '..s
COULDN'T SETTLE IT.
The majority of the master plumbers were
willing to grant the demands, but the
majority of the association voted against
this, and all are bound by the decision.
The journeymen held meeting last night
at their hall on Water street. About 200
men were present, and it was decided unan-
imously to stand by the original demands.
There is no likelihood of the trouble being
settled soon, as the master plumbers con-
tend the dulness of trade is in their favor.
Still another trade is involved in the
present difficulty. The plasterers have pre-
sented their demands for an increase OF
wages and shorter hours. The matter is to
be arbitrateu, however, and is not likely to
cause any serious trouble. The master
plasterers and journeymen each held meet
ipgs last night and appointed committees to
confer with each other tonight on the mat
ter. The men arc asking for an advance of
80 cents day.
Several builders seen yesterday were of
the opinion that if the people who are try
ing to pull the Builders Exchange into the
muddle would keep their hands of, the
various trades could settle their difficulties
with ease. But with three trades now in
volved ana the others ready to fall in line,
the prospect for general strike is more
favorable than ever.