Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-25
A SERIOUS MATTER.
The May Strike Will Throw Many
Men and Much Money Out of Use.
BUSINESS PEOPLE WILL FEEL IT
Conditions Point to Long Struggle for
the Upper Hand.


II the sentiment which at present obtains
among both masters and men continues,
week from to-day will witness the iDaugura-
tion of struggle between employers and
employees In the building trades which
promises to be of long duration. Both
sides are conscious that the impending
strike is very much more than a periodical
breeze between labor and capital, and that
point has been reached in the relations
which affect the employment of labor
on the one hand, and provide for
its remuneration on the other, which rem
ders it necessary that conclusive result.
one way or the other, must be the outcome of
the struggle. This occasion will be the first
in the history of the trade in Western Penn
sylvania in which the employers in the vari-
Gus branches OF the building and allied trades
have coalesced for the purpose Of resisting
the demands of the men in one branch, and
and it is significant of the unanimity which
prevails among the masters that even those
of them who could pursue their business re-
gardless of strike have elected to stand by
their fellows in this fight.
low lne matter STANDS 1O-Day.
As previously pointed out in The DIS
PATCH, the aggressive stand taken by the
masters is due to the conclusion that the
cost of building cannot be any further ad-
vanced than it has been during the past few
years During that period the wages of all
branches of the building trade have been in
creased with very little opposition on the
part of the employers, partly because the
advances were in most cases conceded to be
just, but partly, also, owing to lack of har-
mony between the masters in the several
trades. Now it is argued that wages
have reached such a point as to
make building so expensive an undertaking
as to prevent capital from being invested in
it to as large an extent as it might. Mas
ters have thus concluded that if their occu-
patton as contractors is to continue, they
must make a united stand against any
further concessions to their employees. And
this is what they propose to do when the
carpenters strike for eight hours next week.
As has been previously stated, following
on a strike by the carpenters will ensue a
lockout of every man connected with the
building trade, extending even to those
employed in planning mills and
building supply stores. And, according
to the programme of the masters, the lock-
out will continue until the carpenters, and
other tradesmeu who may join them, have
decided to work at wages proportionate to
those which now rule.
Demands Called Double-Barreled.
1.-THE demands of the carpenters are dou
ble-barreled," said contractor yesterday.
''They desire not alone to curtail the days
labor by one hour, but request an increase
in pay of ~ cents an hour.
Tho average wages paid carpenter
to-day is 81 rs, the minimum being So 80.
If the concession of one hours work was
made, it would be tantamount to an advance
in wages of nearly IL per cent. The additional
demand Tor higher wages, 80 cents an hour
for eight hours work, is a request for &c
cents per day, or an increase in cost to the
employer Of IL Il per cent, moking the total
demand of the carpenters equal to an in
crease in cost OF nearly "a per cent over pres
ent rates. AS far as we are concerned, the
whole question resolves itself into a M after of
dollars and cents. We do not see any way
to increase the cost in one branch Of the
trade by 25 per cent, because we would
never get it back again. If our trade is
given the short day the others would get it
as matter OF course, and so the cost of
building would be increased through all the
trades. One trade is generally dependent
conducted with one trade working an hour
longer or shorter than the other"
The stonemasons have Joined the car
penters in the eight-hour demand, and will
act with them on behalf of it. These trades
men are now paid So so for nine hours
work, and want So rs for eight hours, being
an increase in wages OF ~ cents an hour.
The Bricklayers and Plasterers.
The bricklayers are now receiving 81
day for nine hours work. So far they have
not taken action regarding the shorter day.
but have preferred demands for an increase
in wages of so cents a. day, which have been
refused. The hodcarriers' interests are
bound up in those of the last named trades,
and any concessions to the latter would be
followed by an agitation by this trade for
similar grants.
The plasterers' scale runs OH until Au-
gust. and In this trade nothing has
been said regarding higher wages or
shorter hours. They received an increase
last year. The painters also carried their
point for higher wages, lately, and have
their scale fixed.
Among the plumbers, roofers and timers,
tilelayers and electricians there has been, so
far, no movement for higher wages or short
er hours. But all Of them will cease to
work alter May /, and continue to be locked
out until some settlement with those trades
which will strike is effected.
1t can hardly be concealed that the busi-
ness of the two cities and the vicinity is be-
ing, and will still further be,
much injured by the approaching
strike. The construction of many build
ings, the plans for which had been prepared,
has been deferred indefinitely, and a great
deal of repair work projected has been
abandoned. The loss TO business houses
will be felt more or less. 1t is estimated
that the amount of money paid to the build
ing trade in Pittsburg and Allegheny is
about SS7. 500 daily. with about $40, 900 paid
every day in the immediate vicinity. This
means that sum of S2S5, 900 weekly. which
ordinarily would circulate through various
channels of trade, will be withdrawn and
remain in bank.
Men and Money to Be Idle.
In addition to this amount, which repre-
sents wages alone, there will be stagnation
in every business any way allied with build
ing operations, and that will necessarily
find a reflex in the prosperity of the COM
munity in general. With nearly 81, ,000,0 900
worth of building operations now in progress
in the two cities and along the suburban
roads brought to standstill, the withdrawal
of such sum from the customary commerce
can but have depressing effect.
A conservative estimate OF the number of
men who will be rendered idle by the strike
is placed at Is, 900. Ofthese the carpenters
head the list with 5000, including all men,
bers OF the craft within II miles of Pitts
burg. The stonemasons are about 800 strong,
the bricklayers number 900; plasterers, 500;
painters and decorators, l, 200; timers and
1o1o hnA orrfar
l, 600; plumbers and gas filters, 800, and
other hrannhes alliad with the huildino