New-York tribune., 1891-05-01
MANY STRIKES. TO-DAY.
THOUSANDS OF MEN WILL QUIT WORK
THEY DEMAND SHORTER HOURS OF LABOR
BUILDING OPERATIONS WILL BE


Great activity will be shown to-day among all local
labor unions, and II Estimated that about $500 men
Will be strike before night 10 enforce
demands for a worhday of eight hours. Preparations
have been In progress for many months by uiose
unions which will make new demands to-day, ana
although in many the bosses have granted the
requests OF their men, I'm many instances the various
associations of bosses have decided to fight the unions
rather than give wages for shorter hours Among
those who will fight the umbermen who, Is said,
win not walt for their employees to strike, but will lock
them out to-day. Many Of the lumber dealers have
already signed contracts with the uniOn but the others
will fight. The men want eight hours and $l3 90 a
week This threatened trouble is 10 complioate
building operations In this ndghborhoOd.
The most important agitation for eight hours Will be
by the housesmtls, who intend 10 strike in this city,
Brooklyn, Jersey City and Newark. The principal
buildings In NewYork where strikes viii begin this
morning. the Western Union, Criminal Court
Centre and Franklin sts.; DugrO's Hotel, Fifthave
and Fifty ynnth-st; the new Ast0r Hotel Thrty-thrd
ST. and Fifth-ave and the Columbia Building No. %
Broadway. In Newark strike will begin on the new
Prudential Life Insurance Building. In Brooklyn and
Jersey City there will he strike every building OF
any Importance. altogether over 5000 honsesmlthS
will be on strike. meeting Of the housesmIths viii
be held In Clarendon Han this morning. Only one
firm has yielded to the union, aud this firm IL In
Brooklyn. The principal firms involved are the j. b.
S J. VI. Cornell Iron Works, Jackson Iron WORKS.
Iecla Iron Works. Neptune Iron Works aud the Joran
l.. Mott Company.
In Brooklyn meeting will be held IN washington
Hall this morning to receive reports from the various
shops and buildings where strikes Will tahc place
Nearly all work OH buildings in Brooklyn will be
stopped and the grainers will cooperate with th'
housesmiths in demanding eight hours AZ tc present
sliding scale OF wages. on Monday II is expected that
the bricklayers and abOrers will also ask for eight
hours.
About 100 men employed I'm the Neptune Iron Works
struck yesterday because a superintendent had
been hired who IL said acted yrranically III dis
chardng the Old superntendcnt's son.
Some G the boss framcr locked out their union men
Yesterday but eight lpOyers signed contracts with
the union which wants fortyve instead Of forty cents
an hour. A meeting was held in Clarendon Hall last
night, and it was decided TO strike About 900 men
will be out t0 day. AT meeting OF the Iron MOulder
Union and Foundrymen's Trade Council in Clarendon
Han last night It decided to support
the housesmts in their fight and TO ask for nine hours
themselves.
Parades will be held In this city, Brooklyn and
Jersey CITY today. There will be mass-meeing to-
night i'm Union square at which speeches will be made
In English. German. Hebrew and Polish.
Members Of the General Laborer,' Protective Union
will also strike to-day for eight hours.