New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-22
CAUSES OF THE STRIKE.

THE SCALE OF WAGES AND THE: CHANGES FRO
POSED
The statement has frequently been published,
and it is true that the wages of only 325 OF
the $500 men in the Homestead mills were
affected by the new scale proposed by the Car
ncgie Company, and there were temporary re-
ductons in the cases of only ESQ Of the 323
men. Considerably more than half of the whole
| number Of men employed in the mechanical
ard labor departments, in which the wages are
not regulated by tonnage scale agreements, but
remain the same from year to year. There he's
been no dissatisfaction IN regard TO wages among
any of the employees since the adoption of the
sliding scale Of 1889. The output of the mills
has gradually increased since 1882 and with
the augmented product has followed propor-
tionate increase Of wages, was contemplated
by the sliding scale. At one time, between 'S9
and go the increase in wages amounted to 70
per cent over the average prior 70 the adoption
of that scale.
To give clear understanding of the situation, 1t
is necessary TO explain the working of the wage
system. In 1850 the Amalgamated Association
and the Carnegie Company agreed upon a scale
Of wages tonnage rates, based upon the prices
of steel billets. The minimum of S26.50 was
subsequently reduced by agreement to S25. Last
January, when q conference between the company
Il minimum of $22 steel billets and the
latter demanded that the S2j scale be main
tanned
After q number cf other conferences the aSSO-
citation agreed 10 accept minimum OF S?3 on
steel bille:s, which the company consented to.
hen the company insisted that tie scale should
bevin ard terminate January ] or December
j but To this tie ASSOCIATION refused 10 agree.
Tive ccnferIees OF the association insisted upon
having the scale begin AID end on June ! or
had what they considered TO be all powerful rea-
sons for terminating the scale on the dates ucy
had respectively ramed: The chief reason as as
signed by the officials Of the company was that
work was dull generally in mldwinter, and that
as the men would not wish to be thrown out OF
employment at that season OF the year, mere
would he better prospect oi an agreement 10
the scale than in summer when the inlils hau 10
be run u their full caiaclty 10 I'LL the ORDERS
EcsdeS, il strike should occur In mldwlnter,
il would not Inconvenience tie company seri-
olSly, as it would enable IL 10 shut down the
works and make necessary repairs and Improve
nents during the d1ilcst season OF the year,
avoiding the loss consequent upon inability to
carry out contracts
Naturally, the reasons set forth by the ast)-
cintion were exactly the reverse Of these. Its
conferlpes urged that the company would he more
likely to agree TO fair scale In May or June, when
orders were pressing than In midwinter wnS,i
outside OF ali consideration If wages, IL would
not be a,erse ~ shit down it, mills for needeu
repairs -
thousands Of dollars In wages while on the otnei
the cCmpanys sa, ing would be the employees
loss This was the point OF which no agreement
could he reacheh and as there was no prospecu
of reaching "a satisfactory conclusion, the COM
pany clCecd up its works, shut It's gatess us
charged all its wormen and locked ltS doors
Having gone this far the company decided no
longer to recognize the Amalgamated Association
as a party TO the agreement for the uslai wage
scale but offered 10 take back all OF It's OLD
employees as individuals at Il scale OF wages
based upon d rate of S23 on steel billets. Tho
mon adhered TO their organization, and Then fol-
lowed the bloody battle with the Fnxerton
guards the arrival Of the militia, and the partial
filling IN of the works with new men, with the
details of all of which the public Is generally
familiar.
THE STRUGGLE NOT ABOUT WAGES.
From the first the men have admitted thao
they have no fault to find with the new scale.
Il was one of the leading members Of the Adyle'
ory Committee who had this 10 say
ave are aware that the new scale does not
involve material reduction OF wages in any %
the departments of the mills, and that of the entire
nine mills it affects only three Even in these
three O reduction is not contemplated. The scale
is merely changed TO prevent too much OF an
incrxasc Of wages in departments where the IN
PRODUCTION of improved machinery is likely largely
to increase the tonnage handled By the higher
priced men. or total Of $500 men employer
in the Carnegie mils at Homestead, only 325
are affected by the proposed changes Inc
trouble is lust this: We interpreted the action
Of tho Carnegie COMPANY " INSISTING upps ~