The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-05
WISHED TIME FOR MEALS
Walters at the New Cream erie
Strike at Lunch
Hour.
HAD NUMEROUS GRIEVANCES.
The Proprietor Says They Wanted
Porterhouse Steak and
Chicken.

There was trouble at the New Creamerie
restaurant at 725 Market street yesterday
at noon. The orchestra, in its elevated
perch, had just commenced selection,
when it was observed that the walters had
vanished. Impatient customers COM
menced to rap vigorously on the sides OF
their plates, and the strains of the
musicians were almost drowned in the
murniGrs of discomfort. The head waiter
rushed to the kitchen to see what was the
matter.
He returned with look of dismay on
his countenance, for the entire force of
twenty-seven walters had struck. It was
just five minutes after u. the very busiest
time of the day, and there was but one
thing to do. The state of affairs was an
nounced to the unserved guests, who filed
out disconsolately.
j. w. Young. one of the proprietors,
reopen at o'clock, and the walters real
lied temporary triumph.
This trouble has been coming on for
long time" said one of the walters, while
a knot of half a dozen more stood by to
prompt him if he made mistatement or
failed to draw it strong enough. THE
walters had trouble with this man Young
dDOuI bMO 1Cdlo dSOI WHSll AS was
running another restaurant. He then
said we should have dessert only
once a day. We struck and won the day.
Again about two months ago we made
demand for higher wages. He agreed to
give US what we asked, $11 month and
board. but he has heen sore about it ever
since AS result of this feeling the pro-
pretors have been playing us little tricks
for some time. First, he pasted up O
notice that we could have roast beef only
twice a week. Then they cut us down to
roast beef once a week, and now they
won't let US have it at all.
And green corn" suggested one of the
other strikers.
Eyes, and green corn" continued the
speaker. "They refused to let US have
that, although it costs only 81 25 sack.
Dessert they would let us have only once
day, at least such was the rule, though
many of us ordered it whenever we felt
like it. This. l understand, is the reason
two or three men have been let out lately,
although no cause was given for it.
mot satisfied with cutting off all these
things from our bill OF fare, a notice was
posted in the kitchen few days ago to the
effect that when ordering for ourselves we
must acquaint the cook with these facts.
When we did that, instead of getting what
we wanted we got whatever the cook
pleased to give us. If we ordered roast
veal outlet we got beef la mode.
"All these things were merely incidental.
The main cause of our going out was
sign placed in the kitchen three or four
days ago declaring that we must eat break
fast before the time designated for going
to work. This time varies-6 o'clock with
some and o'clock with others. AS we
have to work long hours we considered
this an injustice, and it is contrary to the
usage in restaurants. There were no ring
leaders in our movement. 1t was just like
pouring water on yeast. We all COM
menced to rise up against the injustice at
once, and by common consent we all quit
at 2:05 to-day"
After discussing the situation for some
time, a few OF the more radical determined
to form q union.
T. w. Young feels that all the injustice
in the matter has been perpetrated by his
ex-employes. That shows just what kind
of people walters are" he said. 81 have
been out of town for day or two and my
partner. o. t. Wiseman, is at present
away. The walters have made no demands
on me. They did not notify me they had
any grievance or that they had any inten-
ton of quitting. l came in to-day shortly
after II o'clock and found the place de-
serted Where are the waiters?' l asked
the head waiter. I do not know, he an
swered; they went downstairs and left
81 have been paying the best wages in
town. We do large business here, and
so, of course, work our men rather hard.
For this reason we try to favor them as
much as possible. OF course we have
strict rules That is necessary for the sue
cess of the restaurant business, but we de-
mand only what is reasonable to expect.
II understand the cause of the present
trouble is the rule demanding them to eat
breakfast before working hours. This is
only fair and what is required in every
other business. When they all ate after 7
o'clock they left the dining-room in con-
fusion.
ut is true, of course, that we limit their
bill of fare. We cannot afford to have
brolled chicken and such viands. We do
not, however, forbid them eating desserts
as often as they wish. The food which
they are furnished is precisely the same as
is given the guests, and it is all whole
some.
"If had desired to put in girls 1 could
have had all the vacancies filled two hours
after the men went out. | did not care to
do this, but by o'clock l will have full
working force of men. The loss of the
lunch will amount to about $125. We will
pay the men all that is coming to them,
but naturally did not care to do it to-
| day."
Mr.. Young's prophecy proved correct.
Before the afternoon was half over he had
engaged nearly as many men as had lett
him, and at o'clock he opened up with a
complete but rather awkward working
| com plement of walters.
| He says he engaged them on the same
| conditions as those under which the strik-
ers were working.