The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-04
THE PLUM BEERS.
Facts and Truth AbOMt the Strike at ths
JOurneysnop.

Facts and Truth About the strike al tho
J0nrnsysn1p.
There has been considerable s~ce-sawsi'R
to get Mt the bottom Of the trouble between
the jonrnsymsn plumbers and tho master
plumbers Of Helena. Before the days be-
short my mon served notice on the
firm that they demanded to work nine
hours per day for week days md eight
hours on Saturdays, meaning that satur-
day they should quit work ut four O'Clock
in the afternoon and get full days pay
for this partial days work. The
firm Of Sturrock ~ Brown for some
time has been employing twenty or twenty
five men, plumbers, steam and gaS ftters,
with their helpers. Thu public can readily
geo what a loss il would be to comply with
this unreasonable demand on Saturday,
although we gave in to the demand that
nine hours constitute Il day, for which they.
receive ten hours pay.
But to show how unreasonable men can
be, when one tries to do them n favor. and
at the same time work in harmony. When
the union Of jOufneymen plumbers served
their notice on their employers, they stated
that they desired to work eight hours
days and get ten hours pay
for such days work. They did not state
what hour they should go to work or what
hour to quit. Hence when the days began
to grow shorter and it was impossible TO see
to do any work Mt seven O'Clock, and in fact
seven O'Clock in the morning but came
struggling in from 7:15 to 7:45 and would
sit around the stove in the shop till it was
light enough to see to go ont and do their
days work. Seeing matters thus, Stnrrock
d Brown asked their men to begin work at
| T,In and <usS NJ H.In Snr,n ~ NhA plurah-
ers said it suited them all right: that they
could lie in bed these cold, dark mornings
one-half hour longer. Others grumbled,
but seemed to be satisfied ~
they openly acknowledged that 1T
was too dark for them to see TO begin
work ut seven O'Clock, and that they sat
around the stove in the shop till twas light
enough to see to start out.
1t SEEMS, however, that the jonrneymen
plumbers got orders from their union here
in Helena. not to mind what their employ
ers said to them in regard to the hours for
the hours desired by the master plumbers,
and take the matter into their own hands
whether it pleased their EMPLOYERS or not,
and begin as the union told them. whether
they could see or not, at seven O'Clock.
This the journeymen plumbers attempted
to do, as much AZ to say they were their W
bosses, II would fix the time that
suited them, and start work when
they pleased, and that is seven O'Clock in
the morning. When Sturrock d. Brown
found out that they were beginning work
at seven o'clock, instead Of 1880, they .tolo
their men that they would have to begin at
the hour the master plumbers, the EN-
ployers of the men, appointed, and II MOI
they would not stand it having the mel
hang around till daylight and paying then
for all this wasted time. If they did no
see fit to begin work at 1880, they coult
quit.
Other union men being asked their opin
ion of the plumbers strike, said that the!
had no cause for a strike: that they had NJ
grievance whatsoever. Ii was a silly thin
tor the nen to quit work because their EN-.
ployers asked them to begin work at 1870
Another thing is that the plumbers ant
steam-fitters in Helena get better pay thai
any town in the country: they have hat
their own way for some tine and though
when they insisted on this last unreasonable
demand their employers would have to CIV
in to them. If they were asking anything
reasonable, or if it was anything that wa
any way hard on them. probably they coui'
have carried their point; but they refused
to accept q simple, reasonable request from
their employers, who were acting in goo.
faith for the plumbers welfare. and givinJ
them a half-hour more rest in the morning
it seems too bad that some classes of mel
don't know when they are we'll off and wheel
they have a good job, as all these striking
plumbers had in all the shops in Helena
But when they were willing to be LEI
by a certain class of agitators. and not b.
advised by their employers, who wer
willing to give them ten hours pay for min
hours work. and who we're trying to maxi
their hours of work pleasanter and lighte
for them, they have no one but themselve
to blame for being out of work and loslnI
their situations. some of the more sensibl
of the ~journeymen, seeing how unreason
all. ALn 1a.1r,tv -f chair Irnthnr ynr
men were in not wishing to work III har
mony with their employers, quit the union
Those men that did quit the union are oil,
union men from the east. and union men il
good standing in the eastern unions to-day
They claim that the National union woul'
not uphold the Plumbers union here il
their unreasonable demands, and conse
quently their unreasonable strike. Som
. = call it n lockout. If it is a lockout. the mel
. have just locked themselves out and SHOULD
|, not blame the employers, but themselves
= or their leaders or agitators, who advise
> them only to work against the interests O
the master plumbers.
y The master plumbers in Helena are all il
favor OF a union: they claim it is a goo
8 thing for both the men and themselves
! providing they all work in harmony. Som
/. of the men think q union is only for thei
own interest. and force their employers t
give to them whatever they might demand
u not that a union is for mutual protection
Still there might be some excuse for fhes
|. men, as this year was the first time the
). ever had a plumbers union in Helena. an
: when they begin to realize that it is no
!, to be all a one-sided affair. they will com
= to their senses and learn the true meanin
of the word and workings OF unions.
The following clause is the whole caus
of the strike, and no union outside tn
journeymen Plumbers, Steam and Gasfii
tiers union see anything wrong about it. {
any cause for the mel to take any objectio
to it. They say it is fair and just to a
C parties concerned, and that the men ougf
to be Thankful instead of otherwise. Thes
few Ines are what the men struck ol
o Hours of working throughout the week q
follows: To begin work each and ever
morning at 1870 n. IN. and quit at $3.50 p. III.
Meaning that tine men should work min
hours and receive ten hours pay.
This notice is TO explain TO the public an
other unions and labor organizations, HI
even the striking plumbers. that DO III
d know what they asked for. the cause. trut
and ~factsiof the plumbers strike IN our cit.
and that the master plumbers of Helen
: have always acted fair. upright and jus
n and always intend to, with the iOurneyme
plumbers in their employ; and if the me
a cannot see it in its proper light. and that
4 is as much for their interest as their ell
ployers TO begin work ut n proper hou
when they can see to begin work, why the
are very silly is the least that can he Sal
), on the subject; but one thing is certain. an
"a -