Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-12
FOLLOW THELEADER.
Two of the Westinghouse Works Take
a Hint From the Machinists,
AND TURN OUT TINLARGE NUMBERS
An Expectation That the Other Branches
Will Fall In Line.
LOCAL MILLS ADDING IMPROVEMENTS

The strike of the Westinghouse Electric
Company's employees determined upon on
Saturday night, following upon the decision
of the Westinghouse Machine Company's
men to stand out for shorter hours, went Into
effect yesterday morning. Both plants are
shut down, and about 200 are idle.
This is the first time the Westinghouse
Company has been involved in anything
approaching general strike. 1t is expected
that the movement will extend throughout
the company's system, and that the Air
brake Company's employees and the Swiss
vale and Wilmerding men will take similar
action when the result Of the present move
ment develops. The Robinson street works
were idle yesterday, as the result of break
down of an engine.
A conference committee from the Garrison
alley works called on Acting Superintendent
Scheffler, in the forenoon. MIR. Schetfer
said that he was unprepared to give any
ansg er to the petition of the men, for day
or two. The committee regards the result
of the conference as more encouraging than
the reverse, and expects that day or two
will bring about favorable issue OF the
movement.
DECIDED TO STAND.
A largely-attended meeting of the Garri-
son alley employees, at which about 15O OF
the Twenty-ffth street men were present,
was held in the afternoon at Lafayette Hall.
Not less than 800 men were present. The
committee reported the result of the morn
ing conference with the Acting Superintend-
ent, after which about 700 signatures were
obtained in support of a decision to stand
out for the shorter hours. An adjournment
was subsequently taken to meet again on
Friday. The committee appointed to con-
duct the movement will hold itself in readi-
ness to receive any communication from the
company.
A cali at the general Offices of the West
inghouse interests only elected the infor-
nation that the matter rested in the hands
of Acting Superintendent Scheffier. This
gentleman could not be found at Garrison
alley.
The movement of the mechanicians in the
shops of the Westinghouse system men-
toned is the result of the demand of the
machinists of the district for nine-hour
day at the current rate of ten hours work.
The movement of the machinists was de-
ers, of the Federation of Labor, was here,
about six weeks ago. The step was taken
in pursuance of the general policy of the
Federation regarding shorter working
bour, and the machinists of Pittsburg were
selected to lead the movement of the trade
a movement which will follow in other
cities as soon as decided here. The West
inghouse employees seized the opportunity
to fall in line. with the result, as stated, that
two branches of the company's works are
closed down.
READILY FELL IN LINE.
Further adhesion was given to the agita-
tion from the fact that the instrument
makers and other trades recognized that if
the machinists went out they would be prac-
,tically idle. Hence they more readily fell
in line.
As stated in Sundays issue of THE DIS
PATCH, the petition of the Westinghouse
Electric Company's machinists is for 60
hours pay for "a hours work. They have
been working 56L hours, with hours on
Saturday. The other mechanicians have
now Joined in the demand. About one
third of the Who'll" body are employed on
contract work, and the request of the latter,
if granted. would equal an increase of 10
per cent in wages.
Regarding the work of the instrument
makers, of whom there are about 30 in the
Garrison alley works, certain peculiarly
exists. They are employed on contract
work. at specified rate per day. They can
work time and half at the rate, but ii they
turn out more work than calls for pay over
the stipulated time, they are liable to have
the price for the next contract cut down.
Their demand is for nine hours day, with
out any change in the rate of pay. They
claim that the company is making profit
from their work which will easily enable is
to yield the increase.
The machinists of the Twenty-ffth street
works, together with the men of the other
crafts employed there, held meeting yes
terday forenoon in Stolcher's parlors on
Penn avenue There were 167 men present.
The declaration of Manager Boles that he
would not grant any increase, was discussed.
It was thought that the company would
override the managers declaration, and
meet them in more amicable spirit. The
time ruling at these works Is 80 hours; 9
hours on Saturday, and overtime time and
half after $50 o'clock. They have petitioned
for "a hours, with on Saturday, and time
and half pay for overtime after u o'clock
on Saturday. Machinists at present receive
S14 rs tor SO hours; they request SIS for "a
hours.
BOND OF SYMPATHY.
Westinghouse system referred to has the
sympathy of the remaining branches;
namely, the Union Switch and Signal Com
pany and the Airbrake Company's men at
Robinson street, Allegheny. The num-
Der of men employed by the latter company
is about 1000 They have voluntarily as
sessed themselves 81 week in support of
the agitation of their fellow-workers. As
already stated, the employees of both the
companies just mentioned are awaiting
their turn to proffer their demands for recog-
milton. 1t is understood that the agi-
tatIon of both the Garrison alley and
Twenty-ffth street men is unanimous and
not owing to any concurrence in the wishes
of few.
The general expectation is that this strike
will be short-lived. One of the Garrison
alley superintendents remarked Yesterday
morning that he thought the men were en-
titled to the reduction in hours He said he
was of the opinion that the company would
yield just as soon as the officials had the
matter brought clearly before them.
GRIPPING ROAD.
The strike has crippled the Pleasant VAL
lev Street Railway. About ten machinists
quit work Yesterday because they were not
granted nine hours day WITH ten hours
pay. President Henry is quoted as saying
that he would see the men cursed before he
would grant the request. The men did not
go to work yesterday morning, and the COM
pany has been hnstling for machinists. So
far they have been unable to get any.
One of the linemen at the power house
said last night that if the demand of the
machinists was not granted the linemen
would go out to assist the strikers He