New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-22
WILL SCHOOLS BE READYs
DELAY CAUSED BY THE STRIKERS.
NO TIME TO SPARE IN COMPLETING REPAIRS
TO THE OLD AND FINISHING THE

NEW ONES
The strike of union workngmen on the public
school buildings in this city is spreading rapidly
and members of the carpenters, painters, trainers
and steam-ftters' unions declare that they will
not work with nOn-unon men for the wages
paid by John +. O'ConnOr who has the city con-
tract for painting the majority Of the buildings
where strikes in progress. Altogether,
it is believed nearly 200 skilled workmen are idle
on account of this strike. The delay which IL
certain to follow the cessation of work on these
school buildings makes it probable that some Of
the eleven schools which work has altogether
only partly been suspended will be unable
to open their doors for the accommodation of the
children who ready to throng their rooms in
September Besides those schools mentioned in The
Tribune yesterday, strikes in progress in Gram
mar School No 60, at No. 14s College-ave.. Elijah
d. Clark, principal; Grammar School No. 6s, at
No. 1l6 West Observation-Disclosures ighth-st,
Elijah A. Rowland, principal; Grammar School
No. 10, at No. % Norfolll-st.. and at the College
of the City of New-York.
Late yesterday afternoon twelve steamftters
went on strike at the order of their walking dele
gate on the College of the City of New-York in
sympathy with the union painters who have gone
Oh strike on the jobs of Contractor John L.
O'COnnOr. At Grammar School No. IS, No %
Norfolk-st., about fifty men, including carpenters,
painters and trainers, quit work on account Of the
employment Of non-union men, but Mr.. OConnor,
the contractor, succeeded in securing a large num-
Der of men this job 0y concentrating here men
taken from other jobs in different parts of the
city, and work here will not be much delayed.
Primary School No. l. at No lO5 Ludlow-st,
will take six weeks to he put in order with q
full force of men continually at work yet there
yUaS nUla or at
work in this building yesterday New floors
being laid in this building, the walls and cell
ings are being replastered and other extensive re-
pairs and alterations being made, yet the only
men at work n force of nOn-uniOn masons and
briclSlayerS employed by Contractor Alfred Nu-
gent. The strike in Primary School No. began
on Saturday with quarrel in which the union
men attempted TO make trouble with the non-unon
men, and three policemen were called in to restore
quiet
On the uptown school buildings there are CON-
paratiyely few painters on strike, and in all of
them there were some non-unOn men at. work.
The majority of men who went on strike yester-
day are cerpenters and joiners, who quit work in
sympathy with the painters, and number from
eight to twenty men at each school.
Late last evening it was reported that the work
men on the new grammar and primary schools az
Nos. Ib9 ana 30 Iulfu-dNe. had gone Oh SlTlho
to force the recognition Of the Painters Union
and the discharge of nOn-union men.
John T.. O'COnGor, of No. 1Oi Eedford-st., who
has the contracts for painting the majority OF
school buildings in this city, could not be seen
yesterday bat il was said on the authority OF one
of his forcmen that he had for long time been
doing city work, especially on Biackwels and
RandalPs Islands, and that lie had few, II any,
jobs other than city contracts
The strikers have no intention OF returning ID
work under the present arrangement and nave
no idea as 70 when the strike will be settled.
The union scale of wages Is 50 80 a day, and tine
scale paid 10 the non-union men is in most cases
~ 80 a day. Consequently, the contractors who
employ nOn-uniOn men are enabled to put in lower
bids than their colleagues who employ union men.
Superintendent George W. Dcbevose. Who has
charge of the public school buildings. thought
yesterday that some arrangcmcnt would be made
between the contractors and the strikers so that
the work could be resumed AT once. lie said that
there had been sght difficulties occasionally in
prcvious years. but they had always been adjusted,
as he always cndea VOred to side with the unions
when their demands had been just.
If the work is not delayed more than two or
three DAYS" Mr.. Debrv0Se said. ii will not in-
tcrferc with the opening Of the schools in Septem-
hcr. but if the delay should extend beyond that
time il might cause much trouble large force
of men is put at work in the schools aS soon as
they are closed for the summer and the eight
weeks vacation is barely sufficient TO get them
cleaned and repaired before the time comes ia
rroDen them" On the new buildings any delay
Mr. Dchvose said. would prevent them fron
being ready by September.