The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-28
The Granite Troubles Adjusted.

The Granite Troubles Adjusted.
The strike seems to be at an end, so far
as Barre and vicinity and Quincy, Mass
are concerned. On Wednesday of last week
committees from the two sides met and
came to an understanding. On Friday it
was further agreed to begin work on Mon
day, the 26th. The agreement, as signed by
William Dunbar, for the manufacturers OF
Barre, and Bennett Julian, for the Barre
branch of the cutters union, is as follows:
1T is agreed by and between the granite
manufacturers of Barre and Barre branch
OF the Granite Cutters National Union that
the granite cutters and tool sharpeners re-
turn to work for term of years terminat-
ing March l, 1895, under the bill of prices OF
1872, which were in operation at the time of
the suspension of business; with such slight
changes as specified which may be agreed
upon by these committees. Should either
party desire change at the expiration Of
said period. three months notice shall be
given previous to March l. 1895. If no notice
OF change is given by either party, as above
stated, then the agreement in force at the
time shall continue for three years from and
after March /, 1895.
" 1t is also agreed that any contention
which may arise during said period, as to
the performance in good faith Of said agree
ments by either party, shall be referred to a
committee consisting of three members
each to be selected from the executive com.
mittee of the Barre branch of the Granite
Cutters National Union and granite manu-
facturers of Barre, which committee shall
act as board of arbitration, and failing to
agree by two-thrds vote, said board by
fve-sixths vote shall agree and select dis
interested person to act as umpire; and the
board, thus constituted, shall hear the par
ties and make an award within thirty days
by majority vote; such award shall be
hnal. Pending such arbitration in refer
hoo l., lf.@ IL.
agreed that there shall be no strike, lock-
oat or suspension of work 1t is also mu-
tually agreed by and between the Barre
branch of Granite Cutters National Union
and the Granite Manufacturers Association
OF Barre, that no discrimination be made
between union and non. union men on the
part OF the granite cutters and tool sharpen
ers OF Barre, and the Manufacturers Asso-
citation OF Barre agree on their part not to
discriminate against any employer who is
not member of their association or any
member of their association who may have
violated any of their rules.
" 1t is also agreed that men who come to
work, who are not practical granite cutters,
shall be required to 60 to work on two
months trial to prove themselves; and if
they fail to average 81 per day, as per bill
of prices, they will be considered appren-
tees, and shall be required to serve an ap-
premiership of not less than two years at
the regular apprentice wages Any dispute
arising between the parties interested shall
be left to the decision of the grievance COM
mittee. The number of apprentices en-
ployed by each firm shall not exceed one
apprentice to every four journeymen en-
ployed. All apprentices shall be required
to sign an indenture after two months trial,
If both parties are willing to continue the
engagement
Firms employing one journeyman tool
sharpener may hire one apprentice. Those
employing three Journeymen, two appren-
tees, and so on in the same ratio of two
apprentices to three journeymen. 1t is
agreed upon between the Granite Manufac-
turers' Association of Barre and Barre
branches of the Granite Cutters National
Union that if the corresponding secretaries
OF the aforesaid branches are not notified in
| time to put the men to work on or before
Tuesday morning. September 27, 1892, then
the foregoing proposition shall be with
drawn by the committee from the Barre
branches of the Granite Cutters National
! Union"
The agreement between the Quincy
manufacturers aud cutters was signed on
Saturday. 1t differs from the Barre agree
ment in that the number of apprentices is
| to be discretionary with the employers, and
no discrimination is to be made between
union and non-union men by the cutters,
provided the manufacturers do not discrimi-
nate against the cutters who have been
prominent during the recent suspension.
ment has been reached as yet, the cutters
not being willing to agree to the provision
regarding no discrimination against nom
union men.
The agreements between the cutters and
their employers at Barre and vicinity and
Quincy were ratified by the New England
Granite Manufacturers Association at a
meeting held in Boston on Friday. The
prime reason for the ratification seems to
have been that the association felt that it
| could not do otherwise.
The provision of the Barre agreement re-
garding no discrimination against nom
union men, is regarded as OF no particular
significance, as the union claims that all
the cutters at work in Barre are union men,
they never having severed their connection
with the union. The injunction case against
Barclay Brothers by the manufacturers is
dropped, as part of the settlement The
| practical result of the new understanding is
that the men who have not been at work
between 80 and 200 in Barre-are nearly all
at work now, and all will be in few more
days. G. E. Tayntor & Co. and Gordon &
Marr have each taken on a large force, and
other firms are hiring all the cutters they
can ind. Perhaps twenty-five or thirty
men have returned to town since the settle
ment took place but it is not expected that
many of those who went South will return
before spring. There is general satisfaction
that settlement has been reached, and
every one looks forward to at least two
years of marked prosperity for this whole
granite-producing section.
The good feeling that exists, after the
long struggle of five months, is indicated by
the adoption OF "a resolution by the manu-
facturers on Monday to the effect that cut
ters and sharpeners from other places should
not be employed until reasonable time
has been given the old employees to return
to Barre.