The morning times., 1896-05-04
STEAM FILTERS GO OUT
Refusal of Bosses to Grant
Their Demand the Cause.
STRIKING FOR LESS HOUR
AT Meeting of Local No. 10, Yes
terday Afternoon, 1t Was Decided
Not TO Return to Work Until Eight
Hours Constituted Il Days Labor.
What the Strikers Claim.

A largely attended meeting oflocal Union
NO. TO- OF the National Association of
Steam and Hot Water Filters and Helpers.
was held yesterday afternoon al 3: 80 o'clock
at No. 425 Twelfth street northwest
The meeting was called TO consider the
action OF the local bosses who refuse 10
recognize eight hours as a legal days work
ana TO formulate plans to meet and over
come this opposition OF the employers to
tile demand Of organized labor in the Dis
trlct. For some time past the executive
board OF local No. ! 0 have been endeayor-
ing to adjust the differences between this
organization ana the local bosses, but with
out success.
The steam filters claimed that eight hours
was legal days work and that they were
entitled 10 tile fun day Of So per day. The
bosses, 1t is said, were willing to pay the
wages demanded, but would not a gree to a
shortening OF the hours, and claimed that
all employees should work nine hours u day.
DOCKED BY THE BOSSES.
This was the situation on Thursday last
when there was a special meeting Of local
No. 10. 1t was then determined that all
steam filters and helpers in the employ
of firms composing the Master Filters As
socation, should stop work at 4 o'clock
p. m instead of 5 O'Clock, as had been tae
custom heretofore. This was done by the
employees of the firms in the bosses COM
bine on Friday and Saturday. and when the
men went to receive their pay for their
weeks work they found they were cut
for an hours pay-on Friday and Saturda y
This was no surprise 10 the Iaborers
for i'll anticipation of such action on the
part of the bosses the committee which
waited on them last Wednesday Informed
them If they pursued such a course all the
employees would be called out and would
refuse to return 10 work until their Ge-
mands were granted
AT the meeting held yesterday the action
Of the executive board and the men who
quit work for the purpose of testing the
eight hour law, was unanimously in
dorsed aud it was further decided that tie
men would rot be allowed to return to
work until the demands OF local No. 10
were acceded 10 by the bosses
Afier the meeting prominent member
OF local No @ said they did not expect 10
have any trouble about the matter The
members of the local had always treated
the bosses fairly by refusing TO do job
work, which they thought legitimatelv be
longed to the bosses, but which they could
easily have done with profit.
NO TROUBLE EXPECTED.
The filters and helpers number over a
required by the bosses of this city, and in
case the employees i'll the combine refuse to
come TO terms the men thrown out of
employment will be compelled to do lob
work, at least for a time
The bosses in the combine. it is said have
threatened to bring workmen here from
other cities. This course would not be
effective, one Of the executive board said
for if the master steam filters attemptpd
Ind
In even greater trouble than now Such
action as this on their part would not
be tolerated. he said, by the other organ
izatons.
Members of the building trades. as nearly
all tie contractors and builders in the citv.
are under contract with the building trades
to employ none but local labor on the
work. This phase OF the case will no
doubt have salutary effect on the fur
ther action of the bosses.
AS matter of fact. the members of
| local No. 10 appear to be very Indifferent
| as to what the bosses do. They say there
| are only three or four in the combine
and while they control large contra cts
| they cannot control or influence the action
| of other employing firms.
THEIR ACTION INDORSED.
The action of one OF the firms in the
| combine is considered especially hostile
! to organized labor. 1t is branch firm
| with headquarters in New York, where
it is said. the management pays its en-
ployes So 30 per day for eight hours work.
A communication was read from the
| secretary Of the National Brotherhood OF
| s. and II. w. F. at the meeting yesterday
| indorsing the course pursued by the local
| branch.
Local No. 10 is a contributing member
| of the Workingman's Library and Bureau
| of Labor, and a resolution was adopted
! that until some terms of agreement were
| reached the members should report daily
| at the association rooms at 314 Eighth
street and remain there during the day.