The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-18
WILL" NOT ACCEPT.
Cigar-Makers to Maintain
the Union Scale.
The Manufacturers Promised Work
for the Idle Men If the Scale
:. Was Reduced.

The Cigar-m anufacturers' Association
and the Cigar-makers' union have been
endeayoring to agree upon a reduction. in
the union scale Of wages, but without
success. =. .
: About fifteen M enths ago he union in
creased the scaleof wages, which was only
accepted by the manufacturers at the END
of strike. -.
The scale is now In force, but owing to
the hard times the manufacturers have
been compelled TO discharge nearly all: of
their workmen, and at the present time
nearly two-rhirds of the cigar-makers of
the city are out of employment. !:
A few weeks ago the manufacturers held
a meeting, and with the view of being
able to give employment to the idle men
they determined TO submit. to the union a
proposition to reduce the scale. They
stated that if reduction OF from so cen IS
to 81 Der thousand would be accepted it
would enable them to give their old en-
ployes work and placH the manufacturers
In a position to conduct their business
without loss. 90, -:
The Cigar-makers' Union took the prop
sitlon under cons liberation for several days
and finally decided to decline it, The few
men that are now employed are receiving
continue to do. so remains 10 be seen.
Thomas J. Burns. president of the Cigar
makers Union, says that the cigar makers
cannot live on less wages than they are re-
ceiving now and will not sgree upon a re-
ductiOn. In discussing the situation yes
terday he said.
1.-The men who are now at work are not
averaging over 81 "a week and they are
unable to support their: families on such
wages. s's s1.ai' - NOS steady be-
cause the manufacturers DO not carry suf-
iclent STOCK and the men are laid off fire.
quently until new supply can be OBJ
tanned:
The manufacturers are not carving
large stocks of cigars ami most of the
work now only results from special orders.
When a small stock is on hand the facto-
ries close down until the cigars are dis
posed Of.
1--WE are all waiting to see whatthe man.
ufacturers are going 10 DO, but what action
we will take if the cut is made | am not
PREPARED to say"
CIV. SDyders of the Cooperative Cigar
Factory said Business being dull has
put a stop to business, and in consequence
the factories are not working many men.
"a few months ago the men were laid
off, and two-thirds of the cigar-makars are
now idle. To remedy that condition we
offered to put them to. work at reduced
wages, but they have declined to accept
OuI DLOpOoiblOb'
''Under the old schedHls The men made
from S14 to S18 week, and the reduction
we proposed will only make difference of
from 81 to 81 IS week. We pay the boy
and girl shippers Sc and 81 a week.
II want to challenge some. of the state
ments made by Mr.. Burns. There are no
men working for 81 a week, and our work
men have averaged ST week. The man
ufacturers carry large stock Of raw ma
terial and cigars. Work is also more
steady here than any other city in the
country.
II think the men are making great mis-
take, for II will take them several years to
make up what they are losing by refusing
to 90 to work"
The proposed new scale will pay for
making 4h-inch cigars IS per thousand !;
former price. So 30 and So For Az to 5
inches. SO; old price, $3.50 and $40. These
prices apply to seed. scrap and mold work.
For stripped seed filler, shaper work,
hand work, and clear havana hand work, a
reduction OF 81 per thousand is made on all
sizes.
II. Plagemann. who employed 451 men
during the first six months of this year.
paid an average of S14 13 week. He is
willing to give his old employees work at
the reduced scale.