The record-union., 1895-05-10
SUCCESSFUL STRIKE ARBIrRA ALTON.
What Mediation Effected in the New
York Building strike.

What Mediation Effected in the New
York Building strike.
The 1st of May, 1895, is a date of some
significance III New y ork City. Il marks
the introduction of the eight-hour day
among the electrical workers engaged in
the building trades. This fact by itself
might mean little to those not directly
concerned, were it not for the accompany
ing conditions. The strike undertaken
by the men to secure this eight-hour con-
cession called out 10000 builders, and at
one time seriously threatened all the inn
pOrtant building operations of the season
IN and about New York City. 1t is not
the strike itself, however, to which we
care to call attention (though it may be
worthy OF note that in a contest Of this
kind lasting month, not one act OF vio-
lence is known TO have Occurred), but the
manner of its ending. Late in March q
conference was held at the residence OF
Bishop Potter, who is Chairman of the
Council of Cancellation and Mediation,
and through the efforts OF the council,
represented in this instance by its Chair
man and by Professor Felix Adler, a
satisfactory agreement was soon reached
between the master builders and con-
tractors and the delegates Of the unions.
Committees of the contending parties
had conferred together repeatedly with
moment medlating agency could be en-
ployed in which both sides had implicit
confidence the differences were reduced
to a minimum. The incident suggests
the importance Of the service which such
boards of conciliatiOn seem destined to
render in the near future, as their merits
become better known to both employers
and employed. The result of the coun-
cils kindly Intervention in the building
q q Lesson N
the advantages of the peaceful settlement
OF all la Dor difficulties. The general sit
uation in and about New York City this
spring has been greatly improved by the
practical and timely efforts of Bishop
Potter and his associates.
But the incident OF the building trades
strike, significant as it is, can only be re-
garded as an isolated example Of the effi-
cacy Of friendly mediation. Far more
effective as standing Illustration of the
practicability of conciliatory methods is
the permanent joint arbitration commit
tee of the New York Mason Builders
Association and the bricklayers' unions.
The case of the brick layers has been
clearly set forth by Mrs Josephine Shaw
Lowell, in letter to the VOice of New
York. The committee is composed of
equal numbers of representatives of the
mason builders and OF the bricklayers'
unions: it meets once q week to hear
statements OF grievances and to settle dis
putes between the master masons and
their men. There is a provision that in
case of non-agreement an umpire shall be
chosen. but in the ten years of the COM
mittee's existence it has never been
found necessary to choose an umpire.
During these ten years no strike nor
lockout has occurred between the mem :
bers OF the organizations represented on
this Joint committee. Each year an agree
ment as to wages, hours and "other mat
ters of mutual Interest," is made by the
committee, and to this annual agreement
the organizations scrupulously adhere.
The unions of the laborers on the one
hand and the unions of the employers on
the other are fully recognized: the mem-
bers of the committee do not act as indi-
viduals, but as representatives, of their
respective organizations. The gain to the
men i'll wages under the agreements
made by the joint committee has been
distinct. In 1885 they received AZ cents
an hour, with working day of nine
hours; they now get 80 cents an hour,
and the day is eight hours. A strike in
1884 for a nlne-hour day failed to accom-
plish anything. 1t is not TO be assumed
for a moment that the methods adopted
and used so successfully by the bricklay-
ers and their employers can be applied in
all trades aud emplOyments, at least un-
der existing conditions; but that there
is room for very general extension of
the system most students OF the labor
problem are ready to agree. The best
direction is the success that has attended
many similar attempts to apply the prin-
ciple in all parts OF the country. Review
of Reviews