Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-17
TAKING A FRESH STAND.

The Builders Exchange Issues an Unmis-
taxable Statement of Its Position-Ap-
prentices Will be Indentured, and Any
Man Given Employment-They Will
Concede Nothing.
The Builders Exchange issued an official
statement last night through its Press Com
mittce, which indicates the policy which the
masters have adopted in unmistakable Ian
guage. 1t is war to the end; the masters lay
down a platform, from which they will not
depart, and on the other hand the men
are equally determined. The struggle is
thus given new and decided impetus.
The official statement commences by as
serting that Mr.. SwurtZ's declaration of facts
are evidently designed to deceive the
workmen and misinfOrm the public as to
make statement from the Exchange neces-
sary. Regarding the conference question, it
is announced that it was considered that if
the men had anything to suggest which
might lead to a settlement that they would
ask for a conference. No direct requests
have been made. The Exchange had already
declared its policy. The statement con-
tinucS:
The masters of the various trades reserve
to themselves the right to employ men,
whether union or not.
They do not object to union men, nor will
they oppose the unions as such. They will
not dismiss man because he is not a mem
Der of a union, however. If he can be per-
Suaded to join union that is his own af-
fair The masters also dissent from the die
tation of the unions that foremen must be-
long to the unions, for the reason that fore
men cannot serve their employers faithfully
and Mt the same time avoid harrassmcnt and
mild persecution at the hands of uniOnists
who expect that, because he is Il member of
the union, he should favor them in time,
character of work, etc. at the expense of his
employer. Instances are numerous where
foremen have been subjected to fines and
other forms of punishment by unions for
refusal to obey behetS of wOrkmen. The
masters have concluded to indenture all ap-
prentiees in conformity with the laws of the
Commonwealth: to hold them under such
indenture until they will have served their
time, and to pay them increased wages every
few months until they will have served their
full time, at the expiration of which they
will receive II certificate testifying to the
fact that they have served full apprentice
ship to the trade.
Tney will pay the same wages as were paid
last year for the same kind of work, for nine
hours service and eight hours on Saturday.
The eight hour day Will not be assented to
for the reason with which the public is IA
miliar The membership of the Builders
Exchange numbers 95j firm and individuals.
Affiliated with it are over 300 contractors
who are members of the various associations
of the master builders. In these associations
collectively are included nearly all the mas.
ter builders and manufacturers OF and deal
ers in builders supplies in Allegheny
county. These bodies are solidified. Their
members feel that building for this year is
practically killed and they are therefore
Indifferent as to whether the striking work
men determine to go to work or not. They
have almost as many men at work as they
have employment for. In any event they
would be Obliged to dismiss Il large number
of men early in the autumn when the small
amount of work which is to be done, and that
which might be started later, would be well
under way.
There were, on the date of the last meet
ing of the Master Builders Association 1lth
inst 3W carpenters at work, employed by
"A different firms and individuals. 1t is be-
lieved there are over 600 carpenters at work,
exclusive of those employed in the planning
mills, or about 925 in all.
There are 90 to 100 bricklayers at work Also
There are many men at work not reported,
nearly every contractor having from one to
five, nearly as many as they need to do the
work they have on hand, and prospectively.
With the exception of the King building on
Liberty street no contract has been lost or
assigned to another, the persons building
having notified contractors not to worry
themselves about the work, though many
were in urgent haste to have their
buildings completed. But dealer
in supplies has violated the reGu-
latons and resolutions of the Exchange,
nor is there any reason to apprehend that
any more will. The strike is, therefore, no
nearer settlement than it was five weeks
ago unless the men decide to go TO work at
9hours II day on the basis of last years scale,
with the notifications already mentioned