Telegram-herald., 1891-04-02
NINE HOURS OR NONE
Painters Demand that their Day
Shall Begin st 7:3o.
THE BOSSES REFUSE TO HAVE II 50
And the Men Quiesiy Quit work Until
q settlement can be EnseIsd-Both
sides fIrn and Inclined 10
be Beilieose.

strike. A 1ELEGRAN-HERALD reporter
called at the Central Labor hall on
Canal-sf. IN the afternoon and found
perhaps fifty painters talking. playing
pedro, etc. They talked freely about
the whole affair and said, I've are
willing to give the public all the infor-
nation IN our power and have the mat
ter displayed 10 the full light of honest
criticism. A year ago We notified the
master painters that IN 1881 We should
ask for an eight hour day on the tirst
OF May. Last January We sent the
Master Painters ASSOCIATION type
writer communication, stating the
various features of benefit which
could be derived from harmonious
action, and further stated that II
il seemed necessary We would compro-
mise on a nine hour day. Afterwards
we received very brief note from Sec
retary Fred ;. WIleman, OF the Master
Painters ASSOCIATION, stating that our
communication had been received and
placed on file; that they had previous
TO It's receipt agreed upon nine hours
day at ten hours pay.
Ten Hours Pay for Nine Hours day.
No attention was paid the remainder
of the communication IN their answer.
Today our committee has taken the
following paper around for signatures
by the master painters:
April /, 1891.
we the boss painters OF Grand Rap
ids do hereby agree to grant painters
and decorators of this city IN our em-
ploy, a reduction OF one hour per day,
making the working day consist of nine
hours with the same pay that they
formerly received for ten hours. We
also agree to hire none but union men
when they can be had. Ii not, We will
recommend all 10 JON the union, lls,
at the end of one week # they prove to
be good workmen. Work day Is TO be-
gin at Z O'Clock a. m, and TO close at 5
O'Clock p. m, with one hour for noon
on and after this day
1.-The only point in question now is
the hours, though some of the master
workmen who have been interviewed
say that they will reserve the right TO
hire whom they please. The strike Is
on general order from the Brother
hood of Painters and Decarotors Of
America"
The Case Plainly Stated.
Another painter said: "They are
ANXIOUS enough to comply with our
request to have work begin at 7.30, IT
one will only start. John Emery has
complied with the request and has
gone to work. Harvey and Heystek,
found out today, have declared that
they want none but union men. There
H. ,.A
have quit work today. Some OF the
masters are obstinate, for instance, ID.
G. Henry and Geo. Miller were the
prime movers in the formation OF the
Union, and now they want to bust IT"
Another said: "Mr. Miller, OF Miller
and Middleton. is all right, but Nh.
Middleton is against us. Now the
reason we want to begin at 7.30 is just
tins: We consider that when We are
mixing paints and making prepara-
tions, days work has begun. Ii we
work till $50. il takes US half hour
to fix for the night, so We are nothing
ahead"
The Employers Side Of IT,
Mr.. Middleton, of the firm of Miller
& Middleton, said TO the TELEGRAM
HERALD: al can't see why any such
action should have been taken. We
give them nine hours now, Just as they
| used 10 have ten hours. III a mEn re-
ports at the store on time for the days
work / never object If the preparation
for the days work does keep hIs brush
off the woodwork till even s o'clock.
But | want nine hours of work. i have
never seen the committee, nor has AR.
Miller-and he thinks just as ! do
about il. Now about beginning at 1880.
That arrangement would make five
hours IN the forenoon and -four hours IN
the afternoon. Suppose, as frequently
happens, we have two halliday jobs for
a man to do. When We present the bill
the customers kick and say our man
didn't put in half day in the after
noon. 1t is a matter not only of con-
venience, but of business policy, TO
have the day equally divided on each
side of the noon hours. We are wiling
to give the union all II asks In other re-
spects. and think they should come at
least half way We have horses 10 do
all our carrying, so their complaint on
that score is groundless. Now, today ]
had good man, whom ] had hired to
work on the Gilbert block, corner of
Spring and Monroe streets. The union
men came and coerced him snd an
other named Nathan Griswold 10 stop
work"
Bosse. Held q Meeting.
Last evening, at s O'Clock, the mas
ter painters met at wiIeman and Tur.
ner's, at 22 South Division TO dis
cuss the situation, and there Was a full
attendance. After considerable dIscus-
son they decided 10 make no further
CONCESSION to the union, and TO stand
by the following notice:
"On and after April /, 1891, nine
hours will constitute = days work, and
all men will he expected 20 work from
| 40 a. m. until u m. and from p. m.
until $50 y. m.
"NAsTER P.rSTERs' ASSOCIATION"
Said one OF the master painters, We
have done ali we could. We have
trouble enough with our customers
now. The union men are willing
enough 10 work even twelve hours Il
they get extra psy. They are merely
| grabbing every thing they can. ] have
hsd enough and If they don't propose
| to he fair IN this matter. shsil get men
/ from Chicago, bat what I'll 20 along or
/ our plan. Later on we vii Be wiling
80 begin at : O'Clock, and IN the fail
even 60 work eight hours; but our trade
| comes by PUSHES. and we must provide