The morning call., 1890-05-03
FOR EIGHT HOURS.
Three Hundred Planning Mill
Workmen Strike.
Carpenters Demands Conceded - They Will
Not Aid the Strikers Until August
LIST Federated Trades.

At noon yesterday about half OF the 700
macHlne-hands and bench carpenters employed
in the local mills where saShes, blinds, doors and
holdings are made went on strike because their
employers, who are members Of the Mill-owners'
Protective Association, refused to adopt the
eight-hour system.
The proprietors were not ignorant that strike
was impending, but they were amazed at the
suddenness of the movement, which II is evident
had been decided upon at secret meeting Of the
Millmen's Union held on Thursday evening.
The men walked out without giving moments
notice 10 their employers and VIII probably re-
main cut until they have gained the reduction Of
labor they demand.
The MiIlmen's Protective Association held
special meeting Immediately after the strike at
$50 Pine street and unanimously resolved to
stand by the resolution passed at previous
meeting to continue the present time of labor.
Ii is said that all the mills in the association
were represented, except w. A. Meekers, who,
however, is declared 10 be strongly in favor OF
Tie stand taken by the association. Each mill
man present reported mat there had been no
break IN The hours at his place, statements made
to tie contrary Notwithstanding.
REASON FOR TIE OPPOSITION.
Their opposition 10 the eight-hour movement Is
because OF the fact that there are Il number OF
mills still running ten hours in his city and IN
several towns In The State, and competing with
them in their own market; aud they feel, while
this is The case, that il would be manifest inius-
tee TO expect those now running nine hours 10
come down 20 eight hours, thus handicapping
themselves still more.
When the Carpenters Union proves to the as
soeiaiion that no mlll-manufacturing work for
Use in this City runs more than nine hours they
are prepared TO consider the proposition TO
change from nine to eight.
There are said 10 be seven shops In this city
and Oakland in which lie carpenters and ma
chlne-hands are compelled 10 work ten hours
per day. None Of these are represented in the
association. The fms and shops who form the
organization are:
San Francisco flaning-mill, Fifth and Bryant
streets; Western Planning MILL AZ Biuxome; En-
teipilse, STear and Howard; Stockton. Fourth
and Berry, Andrew Nllkle, Fremont and MIS-
siUn Eagle Min, Oakland; StOddard & Barber,
Aianieda; NJ and a. Hansen, Berry street; w.
Parish & Co., Spear street, and A. w. Sorrel
Beale and Mission.
THE HANDS WERE FoREARMED.
About seven weeks ago the union carpenters,
and some OF The machine -haDds. VINO we're not
then organized, asked for a conference win the
asset alton on the reduction OF working hours.
They appointed committee TO wait upon the as
soclatlon, but The latter declined to confer with
THE woIkingmen, because they held then as they
now hold, that they could mol afford 10 eduee the
hours OF their woIkmen 10 eight per day aud
compete with milleTs whose hands work ten
hours per day.
Upon receiving this Information steps were
taken toward the formation Of a union OF all the
men ID Inc mills, whether carpenters or assist.
ants. Their purpose was accomplished a few
weeks ago and the following selEexplanatory
letter was sent to the association:
We, the undersigned association, Veg leave to in
form You that the machtne-hands of the planning
mills OF the city have formed a union OF the name
and style below appended.
W further beg leave to inform you that the asso-
clation, by unanimous vote, has resolved to work
On and alter May l. 1890, but eight hours per day.
Hoping this Will meet with your approval, We re-
main,
MIL Machine hands Union of San Francisco.
REPORTED BY MACHINE MEN.
II IS reported by The Machine Mems Union
that the men employed in the mills where the
ten-hour system Is IN vogue STUCK during the af-
tetnoon, and that III flYe OF these seven shops
their demand was conceded. The truth OF this
report could not be aScerIaned.
lie union held long secret session, but abso-
iutely refused 10 give any report OF Its proceed
Ings 10 the press. Ii sent Il committee to the
Carpenters' Union, and this committee reported
that all the mililnen were on strike, with tie
exception OF those employed In two different
establishments.
The carpenters, who had decided TO support
the nillnen 10 their demand Tor eight hours by
refusing 10 handle material prepared by men
who were working DIne or ten hours, discussed
The situation until after midnight.
They came TO The conclusion that the mill
men mad not given their employers sufficient
time 10 prepare for The change, ana they voted
That they would not support the millmeu il they
40 not decide 10 postpone their stlike until Au-
gust Isl.
A WET BLANKET CAST.
This wet blanket was received by the mill
mems committee with anything but pleasure,
and some OF them lett The hall bitterly den0unc-
lug The carpenters.
he laIter's demand for an eight-hour day has
been vefY generally conceded. They state that
less than nifty members OF tie craft worked more
than eight hours aud that no strike worthy of
The name occurred. 1880
- THey s,so q clSie- bat the Scheme fsthered by
j. ID. Grant 10 induce the contractors TO oppose
The eigut-hour system. has gone E-glimmering.
Two OF the contractors, WHO on Thursday
signed an agreement to uphold the nine-hour
system, withdrew their names yesterday and
gave their employees The decrease of hours asked.
THAT GIFT" COTTAGE.
Que Of the men, who on Thursday declared his
Hostility 10 the union and signed the agreement
above referred 10, is building a cottage TO be
given away by morning newspaper that Is en-
gagged 10 buying subscribers.
lie UNIONS Executive Committee will visit the
proprietor oil the paper alluded 10 and will In
IoIln hlnl tnat MS paper Will suffer il he Goes not
adopt the eighI-hour rule. The union is well
pleased with the success of its efforts to estab-
lish Inc elght-hour day IN This city ana Will take
care that the fruits Of its long fight shall not be
lost.
ACROSS THE BAY.
In Oakland no trouble OF any Kind between the
builders and mlll-owneTs and their employees is
reported. Inc union carpenters and benchmen
are WORKING eight hours day and accepting
eight hours pay. The milowners where the
union men quit when their eight hours were up
accepted The situation, SO far as has been heard
Iom- There are between fifteen and twenty
planlnG.milis III Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley
and 1t is believed thai in all the union benehmen
are now working eight hours day.
AT tine Burnham Standrford Conpany's mill Il
Was SAID yesterday that The usual nine-hour day
Is In force, because there Is not union man IL,
the mill AT the WashingtOn-street mlll all the
henehmen are working eight hours day. At
the Independent Mil MIR. Johnson is repre-
sented as saying that he Is heart lily In favor of
me eight-hour movement, and so are McManus
q McManahan.
FEDERATED TRADES