Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-05
WILL STOP WORK
May "a, Say the Granite Manufactur.
ers, # the Employees
% Not Agree 10 Bill Of Prices That Shall Ter
inmate Ian. I, 1898.

Bo-Tos. Mass, MAY THE executive
committee of the New England Granite
Manufacturers Association met here TODAY
and adopted the following resolution:
Resolved. That the members of this asso-
ciaiioa shall stop all work i'll their depart
msats with all employees on the evening of
May IA, next, provided they do not make
agreements, in all localities, which shall ter
inmate January /, l>aS.
The evening of NAV IL is when the ex-
isting hills of prices with the Granite Gut
ters' Unions expire As the quarrymen
and paving eGttsrs are out already on the
same question, the Manufacturers Associa-
tion practically declares a general war, and
from now out IA bitter and importan, contest
will he waged. Below are given the rea-
sons as 10 why the granite cutters through
out New England want the dates of the bills
ef prices changed, and why the men are op-
posed to the proposition. The fight is uni
yersal throughout New England, and af-
feets every one of the six states, The men
men in many places have complicated the
matter by demanding increased pay.
In regard to the latter point the com
panies claim that competition is too great
anil prices run TOO low to allow of advance,
They also claim that the prices of stone
Is gradually decreasing, and the cost OF
quarrying and manufacturing the same
gradually increasing, a fact that will soon
place employers in a position where they
would have to 20 out of business.
As to the clause making Jan. i, instead
of May l. the date when the bills would 90
into effect. They say that they consider
II would be better for both manufacturers
and men TO have bills end with the calen-
lar year. The large building jobs always
came in about the first of the year and il
handicaps all contractors TO figure on work
with an increase in wages pending and the
possibility of a strike in the busiest season.
As ii is now an advance in wages usually
means so much out Of the employers pocket.
He hasn't reckoned that III with the work
and consequently he is the loser.
The Granite Manufacturers Association
of New England is composed of all the firms
of amy Importance in the six States and i,
the strongest organization ever formed by
any body OF business men in this regon,
Ii is as parent to all the local granite
dealers associations throughout New Eng
land and its decisions are supreme in mat
tiers of arbitration.
This association has the power to lock
out every yard in New England run by
members and that power is invested in To-
cal organizations and by its action today il
virtually exercised that power.
tn the other hand the men claim that the
proposed change will place them absolutely
in the hands of the companies 'nder the
present arrangement the men are practically
masters of the situation as the busy season
has begun by the first of May, and the
companies must have help. They say that
if the bills should begin in January it would
he during the dull time whcu the companies
would Just soon as not shut down for
several months and when the men need the
work the most. They claim that the com.
punies can afford to give better wages and
and the present arrangement of dates has
proved satisfactory to all concerned for
several years. why change it?' they ask.
The New England Granite Cutters, PAY
ing Cutters and Quarrymcn's Unions are
affiliated and together control over $1,000
men who are all ont or pledged To go out,
Therefore the companies can
obtain no mon help after
the 18th when the strike or lockout be
comes universal. These unions are among
the strongest and best organized in the
country and are able financially to stand
long and hard fight
When both sides are so strongly en-
treuched it Is almost impossible to predict
the result of so bitter contest. II the
companies shonl1 hold together it now looks
as though they had slightly better advan-
tgrr