Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-05
SIDE OF THE UNION
The Painters and Decorators
Difficulty Presented
AN AUTHORIZED STATEMENT
OF the Origin of the Journsymen Painters
and Decorstors' Union OF Grand
Rspids-whst They Say.

To the Pubiic--fn the month Of Feb
ruary. 1890, the master painters OF this
city sent word 10 as. the journeymen
painters and decorators, TO assemble at
ID. j. Henry's store, then located on
Ottawa street, 10 which call = number
Of us responded. After . number of
US had assembled, the meeting called
10 order by the master painters, of
whom there were quite = number
there. the spokesman OF the master
painters stated 10 us the object of the
call, the purpose of which was the or.
ganization OF Painters union for the
protection of the trade IN general.
After debating the object pro and con,
and after the master painters assured
us OF all the assistance and protection
10 further strengthen and uphold our
cause, we decided to form an organiza-
ton. A cali was then made on the
Journeymen then assembled for their
signatures, declaring their intention TO
become members OF the organization.
After ali had signed the roll that
wished 10 become members the num-
Der was found to be fifty. A motion
was then made and carried 10 make
the organization temporary and elect
officers, which should correspond with
the executive board of Brotherhood OF
Painters and Decorators at Baltimore,
TO grant US . charter, and transact
such business as Was necessary 10 carry
on the work of the organization. Ia
due time We received the charter,
which gave us the power TO act under
the general executive board as Local
union No. ll9, of the Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators of America.
We remained IN the employment OF
the masters as before, but never re-
ceived any encouragement from them
according to their promises. On the
contrary, they nave tried IN every way
to retard our cause, and done all in
their power TO break up our local
union. Having received no encourage
ment, we notified our employers IN the
month Of January, 1891. that after
April /, 1891, that We would not work
with other than union men and eight
hours to constitute days WORK, but
agreed upon nine hours without reduc-
ton in wages.
No Reply Received.
We received no reply until the Slst
Va NdaAlnp NtSh W0 (AitCa OAt Jul ~
spectiye employers on the morning OF
grant our request. This they refused.
whereupon We refused to work. On
the I'd day of April, 1891. the Master
Painters association sent us CON-
munlcation signed by their respective
officers IN which they granted US nine
hours as . days work with the same
pay AS previously paid for ten hours.
Not being satisfied with the communi-
cation We notified the bosses OF the
fact and they sent reply stating .
delegation would meet Us in season II
agreed uDon, which request was
granted. The delegates met us IN our
hall, and after debating upon several
topics pertalng to our craft the spokes-
man of said delegation stated TO ne
that the ASSOCIATION had agreed TO
grantus nine hours as a days work with
out . reduction of wages. but would
not give us . written agreement to re-
fuse the hire OF non-union men. The
spokesman stated that upon their word
OF honor they would not hire any other
but union men if they could get them,
and If not Trey would hire only good
non-union men and request them 10
join the union. We trusted them upon
their word OF honor and went back TO
work, but 10 our sorrow found that
thelr word OF honor was only farce
and treated us just as before and hired
every scab jack that came along. Ac-
cordlng TO our laws we are not allowed
10 work with non-union men unless
they have made application TO become
members The latter part of Apria We
cent document TO each of the master
painters, stating that il their shops
we're not made strictly union shops
according 10 the law of our order we
would Quit work. which We aid, - they
did not grant our REQUEST. The bosses
stated in an article which appears IN
The Democrat OF May that they will
not be dictated to. but will run their
business to suit themselves and COM
plete their contracts with what men
they can pick up. Beware of such
menl Are they TO be trusted with
your work and properly. as he 10 picked
up and no one knows him enough 10
recommend him? On the other hand.
II YOU are IN doubt as TO who you en-
ploy. ask for his union card and that
gives you the assurance that such
member IL competent aud ~ held by the
entire brotherhood for snfferance that
should ne prove TO he dishonest the
brotherhood will assist you IN hunting
men up and prosecuting them.