The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-12
The Long Strike in tho Building Trades


The long strike in tho building trades
which has Just ended by the unconditional
submission of the men. began about three
months ago with q strike on the new Crlmi-
nal Court building This strike was or
dered because Paul Chandler, an engineer
employed by the Jackson Architectural
Iron Works. who had refused 10 pay fno
of fifty dollars imposed upon him by the
union for some alleged lntraction Oh Us
rules was working there.
The man had been q faithful servant, and
when the Jackson Architectural Iron
Works we're asked 10 discharge him, they
refused. Attempts to compromise We're
made but the Jackson Company positively
refused 20 discharge the man, and the man
as positively refused 20 pay the fine. On
account of the delay OccaslOned by the
strike. the commissioner OF public works
took a hand in settling the difficulty. Thus
the fine was paid and tho strike was declared
No sooner was this done than a new strike
was ordered against the Jackson Architec-
tural Iron Company because II employed
some nOn-uuion men In Us shops, and the
men were ordered out on all buildings IN
which the firm had q contract for iron work.
These n0n-union men were competent and
faithful workmen, but they had an aversion
would not force them Then the Iron
League. Of which MIR. j. NJ. Cornell. of the
firm of j. B. 81 j. VI. Cornell. is president,
took up the fight IN behalf If the Jackson
Architectural Iron Company. At q meeting
OF It's executive board the Iron League re-
solved to lockout all the housesmiths and
take back only such men az were not union
men.
Tho fight was next taken up by District
Assembly 2j3. Knights OF Labor, represent
ing the building constructors, and the Mas
ter Workman, Mr.. Henry +. Hicks. insti-
tuted series of strikes against all the
buildings for which j. Nj. Cornell had con
tracts on the ground that he was the prn-
cipal supporter of the Jackson Architectural
Iron Works. At first the public cartmen
and engineers were ordered out on these
buildings. cutting short the supply of ma
terials. The Public Cartmen's Union consists
of small employers, each OF whom owns
from one 20 four or five horses and trucks.
The Building Material Dealers Association,
which controls nearly all the build
ing materials supplied 90 New York. could
not get the public cartmen % deliver mate
rial for the b.acklisted buildings It's mem
beers represented to their wOrkmen that they
had nothing 20 do with the quarrel between
the hOusesmiths and j. Is. a. j. NJ. Cornell
but the men would only obey the call Of the
union meeting of the executive board
OF the Iron League was held, at which
measures we're taken % form a corporation
% supply building material and provide
horses and trucks tor It's delivery. The plan
fell through as the building contractors
upon whom the Iron League depended for
cooperation in the plan, would have moth
ing 10 do With II.
The building material dealers followed
the example Of the Iron League and ordered
a general lockout of all the public cartmen.
taking back only those who were willing 10
deliver material 10 any building, whether "a
strike was on or not. Only few of the
men returned 70 work, and the strike was
taken up by the board of Waikinq dels
gates of the Knights Of Labor. which insti-
tuted o series II general strikes against
the Building Material Dealers Association.
involving nearly all the building trades.
About Is 600 people were thrown idle and
l25 buildings tied up. The bricKlayers and
several other trades, which refused to
strike, were forced out by the nOn-deliyery
of material and the building contractors
with whom the walking delegates had no
quarrel were losing money. 10 finally be-
came night of the employers against tho
walking delegates. Although some Of the
building material dealers we're driven 70 the
brink OF bankruptcy. they decided that il
WAS necessary 70 stand up against caprlcious
strikes ordered by the board Of walking
delegates and q resolution was passed 10
fight to the end. In the meantime the
men began 20 grow uneasy and the board
Of walking delegates protessed 70
have plan 20 supply building
material from firms outside Of the Associa-
ton. Some contractors grasped at this last
straw. but there was nothing IN It, The
trainers now returned 70 work IN body.
There were complaints every day, espe-
cially from the public cartmen. who were
losing heavily, and there WAS every chance
of the men hurrying back TO work IN a mass.
The delegates seeing they could not hold
the men. declared the strike oil, and as
many Of tho men as could find employment
returned 10 work.
Nothing Was gained by the men in these
strikes 10 Offset the immense amount OF
money they lost in wages. It 10 believed
that their loss is from $500, 900 TO $1,000, 600
besides which the treasures Of some Of