New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-25
DEMANDS OF THE TAILORS.
THE AGREEMENT TO BE PRESENTED
FOR THE CONTRACTORS SIGNATURES.


WAGES. CLASSIFICATION OF LABOR AND
CASH SECURITY FOR ITS OBSERVANCE
soME CONTRACTORS MAY SIGN 1T
THE STRIKE EXTENDING.
The usual programme Of mass-meetings and
speech making was gone through yesterday In the
strike Of the East Side tailors the dismal weather
having no apparent effect the enthusiasm OF the
strikers Many faces were seen about the
strikers headquarters In Walhalla Hall. and 1t was
said that the taors In many new shops had
Joined the strike movement. Many OF the taiiors
have been working hard to finish the tasks which
were allotted to them before the strike was
ordered so that they could be paid of. Had they
stopped working before completing their tasks
they would have received nothing
The Executive Board OF the Brotherhood OF
Tailors yesterday made known the terms OF the
new agreement which the contractors Will be
asked to sign and bring the strike to an end The
scale OF wages demanded is Is follows First-class
operators $is week; second class. from IS up;
basters. SIG; half-basters from so up; pressers
from $l2 up; irst-class finishers $l; secondcIass
3d. bushellers 80 Ono helper apprentice Is to be
allowed for every three machines. Fifty-nine
hours will be considered to constitute weeks
work
The agreement differs from that Of last year In
some of It's provisions. Last year the rate OF
wages paid to the operatives In any one branch OF
the trade was uniform, and poor operatives re-
ceived much good ones In the new agree
ment they divided into classes. One helper to
every three machines will be about per cent OF
the number of operatives employed. whereas for
merly the number OF helpers or apprentices was
about 10 per of the whole number. The con-
tractors will be asked deposit from $50 to 500
each security for the faithful carrying out or
the provisions OF the agreement. Heretofore the
contractors gave notes. but where they failed to
live up the agreement the tailors say that 1t
took too long to secure through litigation the pay
ment Of the Those OF the contractors how
ever, who kept last years agreement Will be per-
mitted to their notes this year II they so
desire, instead Of deposting cash. The cash Sc
curty given by the contractors. 1t is planned. Will
be placed I'm the hands Of a committee of three,
two of whom to be tailors and one a con-
tractor. This committee will be empowered to de-
eide when a contractor has forfeited his security.
The new agreement. including all these points has
been passed upon by x-District-Attorney Bradley,
counsel for the brotherhood Of Tailors. and he has
decided that II contains nothing Illegal A vote
will be taken on It at mass-meeting of the taors
to be held this afternoon. and the strikers will no
doubt ratfy 1t and 1t will then be submitted to the
contractors 1t Is said that several OF the latter
have already signifed their willingness to sign 1t.
Benjamin Driesen. one OF the leaders OF their asso-
ciation Is quoted. however. saying that the
contractors cannot possibly accept the new agree
ment-that they cannot pay the scale OF wages de-
manded.
The Executive Board Of the Brotherhood OF
Taors said yesterday that they would be unable
to tell the number Of tailors strike until
to-day. which is the Jewish Sabbath and therefore
q holiday. There are, however about go tailor
shops In the city, and It Is estimated that fully 81
per cent Of the employed on strike. About
1850 5000 trouser-makers and vest and knee
pants makers expected to join the strikers to-
morrow. In fact. there is strong disposition TO
strike among the members OF all the trades allied
to that Of the tailors. 1t Is said by the employees
that wages have been much reduced In all OF
them and that the operatives have to work longer
hours for less wages than ever before. Although
the year over which the contracts were to extend
Is not yet over, all the agreements 1t Is declared,
have been cast aside, and the task or piecework
system almost fully restored TO Its former proml-
hence The strike two years ago was for the abo-
ltion OF this system and the substitution Of the
weekly wage system.
Miss Lotte Persky the ex-prcsident OF the
Women's Union stated yesterday that there were
about eight hundred working girls In that organ
ization She said the girls were paid from 50 to s.
q week. and compelled to work eleven hours
day Sometimes" she continued, I'VE had to
work more than eleven hours for one days pay. A
certain amount was given to us for a days work.
Sometimes II took girl twenty four hours to COM
plete 1t. 1t makes difference whether the girls
20 on strike not We have no work when the
men are working. We are known as 1ellers,'
and we do everything the coats that cannot be
done by the machines. We sew on the buttons,
make the buttonholes and put in the sleeve lining
We want the contractors TO stick to the agreement
OF last year. We could then make from IS to
week. working ffty-nne hours"
There more representatives OF the clothing
manufacturers about the strikers headquarters In
the course of Yesterday and It learned from
one of them that the manufacturers were extreme
ly anxious that the strike should be settled The
man who made this statement said that there was
much clothing In the warehouses which had peeh
cut and was ready to bo made up. and that the
strike had thrown the trade into state OF chaos
The New brotherhood Of Taiors. Socialist or
panization held n meeting yesterday and resolved
not to go on strike. 1t was also resolved 10 de-
mand that none but members OF the Socialist
Labor Alliance should be employed In the shops
There only about 900 members In the ne"
chairman schoenfeld. at the meeting Of tho
strikers yesterday afternoon. read to the men the ful
He told the men to consider carefuiiy IT'S
provisions before Saturday afternoon When they
are to be prepared to vote on ITS adoption Those
OF the men who were seen yesterday seemed pleased
nresentation TO the contractors. and with Its de-
mands All expressed the hope that It would be ac-
Charlie, Philips, one Of the commissioners Of the
State Board OF Arbitration and Mediation called on
the Executive Board OF the brotherhood OF Taiors
at their headquarters which are now located at No
So Orchards He held conference with the mem I'm
mems grievances.
The headquarters Of the Contractors Association
In Roberts's Hall No 200 East Broadway. were al
most deserted. Benjamin Drfese. their secretary.
who is now familiar with the demands of the
strikers said that there would be trouble in his
organization because the members could not now
AFFORD 10 pay the wages demanded. OF course.
conferences with tho manufacturers would be neces-
sary and II they would agree 10 give moro money.
his organization would gladly Increase the wages or
the tsors.
To arrive at any conclusion. the contractors an
ticipate win take some time. and they think that
mo a,r &c likely o last several weeks ON the
other hand the strikers believe that by Wednesday
or Thursday OF next week everything will have been
settled Their financial condition. while nothing 10
boast Of is such that they can get along for several
weeks without fear of suffering.
al lafe