The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-25
TO REDUCE HOURS.
The Effects of the Prospective De-
mands Of the Carpenters.
CONTRACTS NOT BEING TAKEN.
Builders are Awaiting the Outcome What the
Various Firms Have to Say on
the Subject.

prominently Delores the puDllc on w wednesday |
by the publication Of the interview with Presi- |
dent Gompers, of the American Federation OF
Labor, which appeared exclusively in THE
HERALD. AT most places in the United States
the carpenters will demand that eight hours
shall constitute days labor. In Salt Lake,
however, they win only ask for reduction OF
from ten to nine hours, and eight hours ON
Saturday. AT present they work ten hours and
nine hours on Saturday. Just
WHAT THEIR DEMANDS ARE
will be understood by perusal of the following
notice, was sent by local union No. 4S9 TO all Inc
contractors in the city some time ago:
To the Employing Carpenters and Builders OF
Salt Lake City, Greeting:
GENTLEMEN: = Realizing that the TINE
has arrived when a formal under
standing should exist relative to hours
ployees, in our business in this CITY, and being
familiar with the fact that capitalists confem-
plating building have been looking forward
with distrust and uneasiness to the coming
spring when the eight hour movement shall go
into effect generally throughout the country,
We desire TO announce thai while We are abso-
lutte believers in an eight hour day, we are also
intelligent citizens who feel that uy generous
and liberal policy we may be co operators with
prosperity of our city; therefore we make the
most generous demand consistent with an
honest and respectable livelihood.
On and after May of this year the following
resolutions shall be in effect:
Resolved THAT on and after May /, 1890,
nine hours shall constitute days work for i've
working days OF the week and eight hours on
Saturday, all TO be considered as full days:
''2-That three dollars and fifty cents $500
shall be the minimum rate of wages paid for
each and every one of these days.
''S-That all overtime, including Sundays and
legal holidays Shall be paid as time and one
half on the basis of an eight-hour day.
"4-That owing TO long distances and great
Inconvenience incurred by large numbers of our
men, and also the infringement on the eight
hour Saturday. we shall expect our pay at
place of employment pay day.
'5-That the foregoing resolutions shall re-
main in effect from the date above mentioned
until January /, 1891
''6-That this union is at all times prepared
TO lend its aid toward settling grievances that
may arise between employers and members OF
this union. 10 the common interest OF both
THAT the officers of the union be author
tied to sign an agreement with employers en-
bracing the resolutions contained herein.
''S-That copy of the above be sent to every
employer of carpenter labor in this city, and
also that these resolutions and preamble be
published in The daily papers OF this city.
W. T. NEAIY, Secretary.
The large contracting firms, such as Taylor,
Romney s. Armstrong, the Sierra Nevada LuIn-
Der association, and the Salt Lake Building ana
Manufacturing company, did not signify in any
manner what action they would take in the
premises. and for the purpose of ascertalnlng
their views and arriving at some understanding
the following circular letter was issued by the
union on April II:
ITO the Contractors and Builders of Salt Lake
City:
GENrLEMEN:-At late meeting of union 4S9
OF the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Jo1ners OF
this city, it was resolved to appoint committee
10 confer with the contractors and builders OF
Salt Lake city relative to the contents OF our
circular No J, issued January Is, 1899, and adj
dressed to all employers of carpenter labor here
such committee viii be pleased to meet all
employers at their rooms in Temple OF Honor
hall on April % at o'clock in the afternoon. tC
explain any particulars not clearly understood
by those who may have received the said clrcu-
lar of January 10
Should no advantage be taken Of this con-
ference then we shall not be bound 10 comply
with the terms stated previously, but shall be
guided by whatsoever we may deem TO be to
our advantage in the premises
BY order OF the committee.
'sW. A MCKENZIE, Chairman
This meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon
but none of the contractors We're present and
the officers of the union were therefore unable
TO learn their feelings. A Herald reporter
information in regard TO the matter, and first
called at The office OF
TAYLOR, RoMNEY & ARMSTRONG.
Here Mr. Taylor, WHO mas charge of tht
He said: I'VE employ about sixt!
carpenters, one-third of whom are uniol
men. They work ten hours day, and nine OF
Saturday, ana they receive from So TO 81 PEE
day. They demand reduction OF one hour de-,
and that the minimum wages paid shall be Ssh
and that only union men shall be employed
besides more minor demands.
Have you taken any actlonlon the demandE
inquired the reporter.
no replied Mr.. Taylor, 1--WE are just wait
ing to see how it will end"
s'what do you suppose the result will be-"
"Oh, guess they VIII win. We are not fight
ing them and what object to most is thei
attempt to make US pay men $3.50 day who ar
not worth IT,
Are you taking any contracts ahead?n
mot one. We want to know what basis L
figure on before doing that. Ii the carpenter
win buildings will cost considerably more il
the future than they do now"
tsWho viii pay the dlherenceH'
''Nell, the contractors won't, and the carpen
tiers won't twill fail on the people who build
"Should the carpenters carry their point, vii
mo. II they win. demands will be made b.
those engaged in all the branches Of hous
building, and that is the most serious part c
it,"
The reporter next called at the office of the
SIERRA NEVADA LUMBER COMPANY,
and found Superintendent Lynn, who is know
as one of the shrewdest business men in tn
CITY, and who has always dealt generously wit
his employees. Have you been notified OF tn
demand of the carpenterSg" asked the reporter
Il have" answered Mr.. Lynn, but hav
taken no action upon 1t.
How do you propose to meet it:'
sIn this way We are hiring all our men b
the hour, and after May if they want to wor
only eight hours it's all right they viii get pal
for eight hours and no more 1t will not MAJ
much difference TO me how many hours the
work. We have always paid our men for an hoJ
on Saturday when they didn't work, and Shout
continue to do so. AS to the demand that "
shall pay minimum of $3.50 per day. I can onl
say that we propose TO pay man what he
worth to us, and if he isn't suited he can quit.
'''Are you taking any contracts"
mo. We are waiting for this matter to
settled first
Mr.. Woolley, of the
SALT LAKE BUILDING AND MANUFACTURER
COMPANY,
was next seen. He said: I'VE have taken
action on the demand of the carpenters an
are waiting to see what will come OF it,
do you expect they will wins''
81 suppose they will for the present, owing
the demand for carpenters. We employ abol
fifty men, and what we object TO most seriousl
is the demand that we Shall pay inferior me
$50 per Gay and employ only union men.
certainly shall not concede this. We propo
TO conduct our business ourselves and when v
can't do that, we shall retire.
WHAT THE CHAIRMAN SAYS.
The reporter next called upon w. A. M
KenZie chairman of the union, who was askt
contractors. as rule, have agreed to our d
1nands and am confident that we shall "
without any conflict.
ssSome of the large contractors do object mo
seriously TO your demand that the minimu
wage 1,er day shall be $3.50, and that only uniC
men shall be employed said the reporter
..rhat is because they don't understand
and il is their own fault. That rate is to app
only to competent men, while they seem
think we want them TO pay $3.50 for inferi
worlymen We invited them TO attend co
ference on Tuesday that this could be e
blamed but they paid no attention TO US"
In case your demands should not be acced
10 will there be a strike ~
..C)ur organization is opposed to strikes, al
II we cannot agree We shall try 10 settle dlflci
ties by arbitration. 1--WE fail in that, of cour
we shall have to protect ourselves"
DON'T WANT ANY STRIKES.
p n h0