Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-29
MoOrhead, Bro. & Co. Take a Bold
Stand Against the Amalgamated
Association Scale.
AN ADDRESS TO THE EMPLOYEES.
Tables Showing the Comparative Rate of
Wages Paid in Each Depart
ment Of the Mill.
CARPENTERS MAKE A GOOD SHOWING
President Weihe Thinks It Unnecessary to Impcrt Tin
Plate Workers.

yesterday made public circular to their
employees, containing comparative state
ment of wages which they are asked to con-
slider, and giving them until to-day to reply.
Ia the circular it is stated that if the old
men DO not stand by the firm new men will
be employed and the mill will be operated
independent of the association.
The condition of affairs at this plant has
now reached the point when it is safe to say
that the firm IS openly arrayed against the
Analgamated Association, and the officials
OF the latter do not attempt to deny that the
outlook is gloomy.
FULL TEXT OF THE CIRCULAR
The full text of the circular issued by the
firm follows:
From the conversations we have had with
several OF our prominent workrren, we have
concluded that i is almost waste OF time
80 even try 10 arrive at a more equita BILE
scale 20 govern our plate mill during the
coming year Ne are aware of numerous
special scales, and special agreements
allowed different mills by the Antalgamat ted
Association, and thought that we should
~a~;aiEly be treated in similar manner
have been, however, so confidently
:0T2G that such favor is not for us that
have about determined to make our mill
GOD-UnICn one.
Before doing so, we herewith desire to pu.
few plain facts before You. believing that
au honest thinking men must agree that our
position, to say the least is most fair.
We have no grievance against the ANAL
gamated Association save their scale of
wages on the plate and tank mill. This
scale being properly adjusted we would al
most prefer signing the Amalgamated Asso-
citation scale. But with the wages now in
vogue in this mill, it is impossible that we
continue at work. We herewith submit a
table of wages, showing the exact amounts
received during the past year by the high
est paid men at the different trades in the
EesuFlus mill. A mere glance at this must
show any fair man at all conversant with
the skill and labor required at each that
there is simply no equity, reason or jus tice
IN the present plate mill scale
RELATIVE OUTPUTS OF MILLS.
The plate mill scale was made when the
output of q mill was, say ten tons turn, and
the wages were possibly fair, considering
the Grade advantages of the time and the
small output; beside this, the price obtained
blythe manufacturer was some to cents
pound. To-day, however, the output of a
good mill, owing to improved machinery,
etc, is, say 80 to 45 tons per turn and this in
creased tonnage, turned out with little or no
extra labor, and in about the same time as
ten tons some years ago
much stronger argument, also is this:
Plate iron is to-day sold at Ls0 cents per
pound-think of it, $50 ton and worse than
that, $50 per ton delivered, which means say
SS4 so per ton net to as. Can you figure any
profit out OF that? Why, it is oniv a decent
price for common bar iron.
The position of roller on the plate mill was
paid last year Sl0,294 p. Think of it. Why,
gentlemen, that was more by quite bit
tGan the hrm made on this mill with ali
expenses, breaks, risks and losses. Think of
Al, one position a mill Welding more than
the firm makes. Why, is it not almost time
for the 1rIn to take the rollers job and give
The roller on our plate mill made. as can
De seen from the tables below, over three
TIMES as much as made by the roller on the
uall mill, over three times as much as made
by the roller on the bar mill, six times as
much as the muck roller and almost seven
times as much as made by the best pud-
dlefs in our mill. Look also at the plate
mill hands Tougaers, catchers and ALI and
you viii readily see that these same out
rageoGs c!tsrCnces between plate mill
and groove 1.-.i prices occur right through
tile list: auC for material that sells for about
1he same Price in the market. Do these men
Work loilt,e~? Does their work take better
class OF men? Is the work as disagreeable
as on the small mills? Or are they men of
greater brains and filing positions that re-
qulre Il mere intelligent class of men? 1
tIllnk You must admit that We have Just as
intelligent meH the pudding furnaces
GnU at the other mills. and mus agree that
tEe plate mil crew Is certainly receiving
wages Ont Of all reason if the balance of the
mills have proper scales
NOT MEANT AS A BLUFF.
We hope tina. you Will give this notice
bluff, but as az honest statement of just how
affairs are. Some may now possibly saw,
'The other mills are satisfied with the scale,
WHY cannot you pay it?'' To this we simply
stste, tnat while they are as unsatisfied as
We are, they make something else beside
common irons and when they don't make
money or common stuff they have other
grades that heip them through We have
nc light against the Amagamated Associa
Ion, ana would 5e willing to sign the scale
at once, provided they would make us a
proper plate mil scale. We prefer peace,
but IS We cEnno; pay present prices and as
We lnteEdto remain in business if our old |
employees 10 not wish 20 help us out they
must stand aside and let others, who are |
willing and anxious TO dc so, take their old |
places.
We stand prepared 10 back up all asser-
tons We huye made here, with our books, |
and otherwise.
Te ask no reductions from the regular
AIna!f;lniatcd Association scale, excepting
Cn che piate c:liil scale, ard not for heating
on That scale, and if special scale is
El!owed us ON the plate milf we will cheer
fully Slsn the scale and start up full lmme-
olately.
THE FIRMS TABLE OF WAGES
Table Of relative WAGES paid per day on |
oUr various mills, also to puddler and helper: |
Plate mill-Rol!er S24 IS: first rougher, |
s. Sc: second roUgher, So 81: first catcher, |
s. C: second catcher, So 81
Nal miil-Roller, s. %; rougher. So 7s; first |
catcher, s. 7S: second catcher, So l5
Bar mIll-Bu!iCr, 81 80; rougher, 81 p: first !
catclcr, 50 q; second catcher, 50 81
Guide m5ll-Roller, $40 IS; rougher, 81 OF; |
cslcncr, a Oh
Muck n.ilI-Roller. 81 So: rougher s. 81;
fret catcher. = 81: second catcher, 81 g.
Plate mill cTeW-Roiler S24 SS: shearman.
$40 50; first rOugher, SS 50; second rougher,
ST p; first catcher, s. 03: second catcher
50 81; holster, So 81; screwman. So 81: buggy
man, 81 ID: scrap boy, So 03; heaters helper |
s. 81; puddleT, 50 62: helper 81 So
Your careful attention is asked to the |
Gbove, and reply not later than Wednes- |
day, July g, iS9L MooRHEAD, Bro. & Co.
PROMISE OF a BITTER CONTEST.
1t viii be noticed that the firm appears TO |
lay particular stress on the statement that |
IT has no night to make against the Amalga-
mated Association, but it is peculiarly a |
fact tbgU is has aimed its opposition to q por-
tion OF the scale for which the association
WGu.d nghU the hardest, and the present
contest promises 20 be bitter one.
The statement made in TaE DISPATCH q
1e% c&ys ago, thAS this was oniv the be-
giEn-o-5 cf series Of battles 10 be waged By
n number OF Iirrls, seems now more prob-
struggle will be watched with great inter
est ov other frTns which are apparently |
waiting Tor an opportunity to make q break !
TnC CASE at the Sharpsburg mill is almost |
entirely without a parallel in the history OF |
the association. 1t was complete surprise
TO everyone when it became known that Mr. |
MOoToead objected TO the scale, at all, as the
ANA igaula;ec officials regarded the scale as
signed az the FeSuvius But on july "a Mr.
IOO-..eAC removed ali cause for such
thoGEh.s BY asking for 4 conference on the
plate Iail scale. The request was complied