Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-03
Window Glass Manufacturers and
Workers Meet in Conference, but
Break Of Abruptly.
EACH SIDE ADVANCES DEMANDS.
The Employers Insist on q Ten Per Cent
Reduction and the Men Demand
An Advance.
HIGHER WAGES FOR THE CATERERS.
Both Parties Determined. and Long and Bitter
Struggle booked For.

each side have met and adjourned indefn.
itely without arranging prices for the en-
suing fire. Each side has put forward de-
mands which it unqualifedly declares it
will stand by.
The manufacturers propose to reduce the
wages 10 per cent all around, and demand
other concessions detailed below. The
workers ask that the gatherers be paid 20
per cent of the blowers wages, in lieu of 65
per cent as during the last fire. They also
introduce new rule. This decision was
arrived at by three-fourths vote of the
whole trade.
The workers have a full treasury, have
been preparing for this tussle for some time
past, and are credited with being steadfast
20 their position. The manufacturers are
fully organized and are not unwilling to
measure their strength with the men. Six
thousand men will be affected bv the cessa-
ZION of work, half of whom are in this dis
trict.
WHAT EACH SIDE DEMANDED.
The conference between the respective
committees was held last Friday. The
session occupied five hours. The workers
were represented by President j. P. Eber-
hart, Theodore E. inks, Daniel Winters,
j. /. Conaway, William Jones, II. d.
Swearer and A. NJ. Bammett The manu-
facturers' committee consisted of President
James A. Chambers, o. f. Frazee, J. NJ.
Lewis, Daniel Mckee, ]. T. Hart, W. d.
Keyes and William Loeff1er. The joint
meeting organized by electing Daniel Win
tiers Chairman. Messrs. Frazee and Swearer
were appointed secretaries.
The proceedings were opened by the work
ers. Their side advanced a proposition that
the gatherers' wages be increased from 60
per cent Of the wages paid to the blowers to
20 per cent. This, rs the manufacturers
pointed cut, was equivalent to an increase
OF per cent. The next suggestion from
the workers was the introduction of new
rule 10 the effect that no cutter
shall carry out any glass. This,
II agreed 10. would necessitate the
employment of additional labor. The manu-
facturcrs, from their side, had counter
propositions to offer These were that the
wages should he reduced 10 per cent all
round 10 equalize wages with those paid in
the northern district; that first bracket
double glass be booked as single if packed
with single, but paid for as double il packed
a. double, and that the average product per
furnace be fixed at 4S boxes single, or 80
boxes Of double glass per week for each set
tlcment of four weeks. They further re-
quested the change of certain rules and
wages which they claimed entailed increased
cost.
GATHERERs AND BLOWERS DISAGREE.
The lengthy discussion of the subject
was conducted without acrimony, but
neither side would WELD, and there was no
disposition manifested toward compromise
or making any concessions whatever. Each
side put forward its proposition as unalter-
able, and when finally every argument had
been exhausted, there was nothing else to
do hut adjourn, and this was done without
fixing date for further conference.
The result of the meeting is that each
side has shown the other where it stands,
and as neither will depart from its ulti-
matUm, nothing remains but a trial of
strength as to which Will carry its point
The question of the gatherers' share of
the wages has been discussed in and out of
the association for some time. When the
blowers received their last increase in
wages they were assisted to it by the gath
erers on the understanding they got 40 per
cent of their wages. To make this matter
clear. it should be mentioned that the gath
erers are paid by the employers, and their
remuneration uAtu at Vi l1e
earnings of the blowers Thus,
for every 500 paid to the latter
during the last fire, the gatherers were paid
S6j. 1t is reported that much feeling has
existed between these two branches Of the
trade for some time past on account of the
CathereTs having been put off with G5 per
cent. and at one time there was talk of con-
siderable internal disSention in the Window
Glass Workers Association In consequence.
UNIFORM WAGES DESIRED.
The action of the workers wage commit
tees in this wear, making a demand for 20
per cent for the gatherers, is due to this
feeling. The committee is not acting in the
matter solely on its own account. The
proposition to ask for this increase was SUBJ
mitted to the whole trade and a three
Iourths vote was cast in favor of making it.
With this backing the committee had no re-
course but 10 maintain the position it
adopted.
The intention of the manufacturers to ask
for reduction in wages of 10 per cent has
been already referred to in THE DISPATCH.
They claim that the makers in the northern
district have an undue advantage over
them since they pay 10 per cent less in
wages. This inequality, they urge, should
he abolished. Further than this, they re-
gard the high cost of production Of to-day
as curtailing the market of the American
maker IN favor OF the foreigner, and they
say that with the increasing con-
sumption of glass the worker can make as
much money at q lower rate as he does now
if the American manufacturer were secure
in his own market. The minor points re-
gardinC the payment for certain sizes and
brackets are not regarded as much of a
stumbling block. At present small sizes Of
any strc2gtE are paid for according to their
strength; though it frequently happens
they are sold in other brackets. Thus while
the blower is paid the full price, the manu-
facturcr can Only obtain what the market
will allow him.
WHAT PRESIDENT EBERHART SAYS.
President Eberhart was seen at his home
yesterday In reference TO the action of
Friday. He said that he could not talk on
the subject. lie referred the reporter to
Mr.. Loefi3er, who, he said, would do all the
talking that might be necessary. His side
OF the matter in dispute he was quite will
ing should be explained by Mr.. Loeffer.
''DO you expect any fuss US a result of the
disagreement on the wage question, Mr..
Eberha-t?" was asked.
"rhcrc will not be any fuss if we can get
what we want" he replied. Further than
that he would not say. He declined to sav
whether a strike would follow or not.
There had been no date for a further con-
ference fixed, and the matter should not be
regarded as settled one way or another
Mr. Loctler, when called upon, said that
a conference had been held; that both sides
had made propositions, the workers for an
rdE-ar.ca IF g NOR con. aod ofhar unarrarc