Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-18
LESS MEN REQUIRED.
Under the New Steel Scale Sixty
Men Lose Their Places
AT JONES AND LAUGHLINs' MILL.
The Convention Of Railway Telegraphsra
Has Adjourned.
UNITED STATES GLASS COMPANY MEETS

Under the new steel scale recently
adopted by Jones & LaughIins for their
works in Brownstown there are just GO less
skilled workmen required than there were
last year. The fact that these men are to
lose positions which paid them the highest
wages has given rise to considerable con-
troversy among the members of the Anal
gamated Association and it is asserted that
be in the American Iron Works
The change is brought about by the intro
auction of new hydraulic cranes in the con-
verting department and other improved
machinery in the blooming mill. In the
converting mill there are 18 men on each
turn who formerly worked in the pit. Their
labor is now entirely done away with. At
Jones &Laughlins' mill there are three turns
in every "a hours. Therefore "a men are
affected in the converting mill alone. In
the blooming department under last years
six in all, who worked in the soaking pit.
They are no longer needed and will have to
find employment elsewhere.
Correcting Early Claima
After the new steel scale had been signed
on Monday, statement was made in which
it'was declared that the workmen in steel
mills had only suffered a reduction of per
cent 1t is now alleged that the reduction
is much greater than the figures given. In
conversation yesterday with several of
the steelworkers employed in the Ameri-
can Iron Works, it was positively affirmed
that the new scale entails a reduction
n fO oil
men, with the exception of the straighten-
ers. The workers least affectsd by the new
scale are the shearmen. Where they could
formerly make from IS to 81 day, they
will now scarcely make So day. One Of
the heaviest cuts made under the new re-
gime is in the wages of the cupola tender.
His pay for every eight hours formerly
amounted to from $40 to s13. He now re-
ceives from 81 to SO.
The trouble among the rollers, roughers
and catchers in the iron department of the
mill remains unsettled. The rollers have
gone back on their promise, and that is all
there is to it. Under the new iron scale of
the Amalgamated Association it was agreed
that the workmen in the finishing depart
ment should suffer reduction of 10 per
cent 1t seems that the rollers, however,
agreed to make up per cent of the reduc-
tion in the wages of the roughers and catch
ers and pay the latter out OF their own
pockets Now they refuse to do this, and
it is evident that they cannot be compelled
to pay the roughers and catchers any more
than they are entitled to under the scale.
Threatening to Quit Work.
A fey of the men in question announce
that unless the rollers Keep their agree
ment they will refuse to work. If they
vacate their positions, however, the Of
fclals Of the Amalgamated Association
will step in and settle the dispute by de-
claring the places open and accessible to
any member of the association.
Yesterday every department of the mill
was in operation except a certain number |
of pudding furnaces. When the scale was |
signed % pudding furnaces were declared |
on. Although the firm has 80 of these
furnaces the number will not be increased, |
at least for the present The local scale |
for the 26-ineh beam mill was completed
yesterday. The men engaged upon it and |
the firm reached speedy settlement. 1t |
will be put in operatioR'to-day.