The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-20
STRIKE OR LOCK OUT
Griffing Works Employees
Given a Ten Minutes No
tice of a Shutdown.
IMMEDIATELY LEFT THEIR BENCnES
Grievances Of the Men-President
Williams Promises = The
Schedule of Wages Paid.

DCu6uulo vi udScS Idlus
President Williams of the Griffing Iron
Works last evening ordered the works shut
down indefinitely. The officials of the COM
pany promised the men that they would give
them a written reply to their demands for
an increase in wages on next Tuesday. The
men never expected that the company would
resort to lockout in order to get the upper
hand At twenty minutes past five o'clock
last evening representative of the company
visited all the departments and tackled in
conspicuous places notices which stated that
the works would be shut down for an in
definite period in order that the company
might make much-needed repairs.
Although the men had still ten minutes to
| work in order to finish their days labor
they stopped as soon as the notices were
tackled up and walked out This faction, the
men claimed, changed the lock out to strike.
The men gathered in groups in the neighbor-
hood, and decided to meet at eight o'clock in
to discuss the matter and decide on plan OF
action. The men devoted the greater part
of the evening to denouncing President
| Thomas Williams, and decided to postpone
| all action until this morning.
ToDAY'S MEETING.
rooms of St. Andrews Workingmen's As
sociation, in Armory Hall, and was attend
| ed by over two hundred men. A delegate
| from the Federation of Trades Councils of
| New York was present and promised the
| men that they would receive the support of
all the building trades in this section of the
| country, if the Griffing Company does not
adjust the matter in manner that will be
satisfactory to the men.
The employees association referred to in the
story of the strike published exclusively in
| THE JERSEY CITY NEWS yesterday, has
| been christened the Independent Iron Work
| ers' Association, and this morning the asso-
citation admitted to the meeting the en-
ployes of the works who were not members.
The new members were sworn to secrecy.
The association decided to admit reporters.
The members transacted but little business,
beyond deciding to remain out until the
company agrees to pay the schedule of wages
asked for and decided to meet again to-
morrow morning at Armory Hall.
STRIKERS STATEMENT.
After the meeting, committee made the
following statement to JERSEY CITY NEWS
reporter:-'The trouble in the works began
week ago when a committee waited upon
President Thomas Williams and presented
petition signed by $50 men, asking that the
wages be increased to the old schedule. Mr..
Williams took the petition and commended
the committee upon the gentlemanly way in
which it conducted its business, and prom
ised to give written answer on Wednesday
morning last He told us that the proposed
change of tariff had affected the business
of the company to great extent,
but that he would give the petition
serious consideration. The men looked for
an answer on Wednesday, and when it did
not arrive the committee paid another visit
to Mr.. Williams. This time Mr.. Williams
promised to give written answer on next
Tuesday. We had faith in his promises and
continued with our work. Imagine our sur
prise then when the notices were posted up
lact evening. These notices are nothing
more than a bluff to force us to come to
time. Williams thought that by locking
us out we could not call strike, and SO en-
list the support of the other branches Of the
building trades. The reason given for shut
ting down the works is lbat the large engine
which furnishes the power for all the depart.
ments is in need of repairs. But there is an
engine at the works which is used when the
regular engine breaks down, and this could
have been started to supply the power.
TARIFF BLAMED.
stMr. Williams claims that the new tariff
has hurt the business, but this is not so. The
Wilson bill provides for the admission of
raw iron free of duty, and does not reduce
the rate on manufactured articles. The bill
would enable the company to realize larger
| profit from its goods I have studied this
workingman desire to say that if the SEN
ate does not pass the Wilson bill I will never
again vote for Democratic candidate
1.-THE Griffing Iron Company employs
large number of subforemen, who receive
So a day These foremen have practically
no work to do, but the company pays them
large salaries and we who do the hardest
work are cut down to starvation wages.
Since the company has reduced the wages
the men have been actually starving. One
dollar and twenty-five cents day is not near
enough for man to support q family on,
and we have more suffering than will ever
come to light
WANT HONEST PAY.
sThe men are not complaining about the
work We are willing to work hard, and all
we ask is honest pay. 1t is nothing short OF
an outrage to offer US dollar and quarter
for the work we have to perform. We have
communicated with all the large iron manu-
facturers in the United States and have
learned that the Griffing Company receives
higher price for its goods than any of the
manufacturers, and consequently we feel
that our demands are just. There
is no truth in the statement that
the company is doing but little work. There
are enough orders on hand to keep us busy
all summer. We are determined that the
company shall pay us the old scale of wages
if il wishes us to work, and we have been
promised the assistance OF all the iron work
ers and trades unions in the United States.
A large number of firms have already noti-
fed TINT they will refuse to handle the
Griffing goods until this trouble is settled.
ssThe company need have no fear that we
will resort to violence This strike will be
conducted in most orderly manner
AT THE WORKS.
As soon as the men left the works last
evening President Williams sent to the
Fourth precinct station house and asked
that the works be accorded police protec-
tion Captain McKaig detailed five men to
the works, and this morning the men were
relieved by another squad. The works were
open this morning and the foremen OF the
various departments were making pre-
tence of carrying on the work The offices
were open and all the clerks were on hand
President Williams, when interviewed,
would say nothing further than that the
shut down was ordered SO that the repairs to
| the engine could be made.
THE REDUCTION OF WAGES
The reduction of wages in the various de-
| partments made last December were as fol-
/ lows:-Laborers from $1.60 to 81 .25; mould
| ers from S2.76 to $3.50; employees at piece
work. from 10 to 60 per cent; climax work,
the most difficult work in the shop, from
| $3.50 to $500; stock room employees from
| S1.60 to $1.25. The average reduction Is
over 80 per cent
MATTERs OF FACT.
If you want to enjoy avery good cent