Evening journal., 1897-11-16
CRISIS IS At HAND.
Trouble IN the Ranks of the
New York Electricians.
CONTRACTORS ISSUE An ULTIMATUM
Have Not Yet Err, ,ged Nonunion Workers,
hut WnI DO So AT once II They Can
not Secure suitable Union Help
From the brotherhood.

NEW YORK. Nov 16.--The relations
between the Electrical Contractors as
sociation Of this city and the Brother
hood OF Electrical Workers have now
reached a crisis. Early this year the
brotherhood informed the association
that on jan 1. 1898. they would demand
an increase OF wages from SO day to "a
a day. They were promptly notified by
the association that such a demand
would have to be denied, as the condi-
tions Of business would not justify any
such increase. nor did they regard the
work required as sufficiently skilled TO
call for such high rate OF wages The
question has since then been a subject
Of constant negotiation between the
parties. neither showing any disposition
to recede from the position taken.
other causes Of Irritation have also
arisen one in particular has called
forth much protest from the employers.
This is the refusal of the journeymen
TO admit into their union a sufficient
number OF men to supply the demand
in this city and vicinity. Although the
employers say their business has been
widely extending all the while. the men
have kept their union a close corpora
tion Of about 500 members for a long
time and have in fact endeavored to
corner the labor market in this line.
1t Is upon the monopoly that they think
they have established, it is said, that
they rely for the success Of their de-
mand for the Increase to "a a day. The
association, being unable to obtain any
redress of this grievance or any con-
cession in any direction. has at last ta-
ken the bull by the horns and addressed
to the brotherhood an ultimatum. In
part II says:
"Our members have not yet engaged
nonunion employees, but If by reason
OF your own action they cannot secure
competent union help they viii have no
alternative but to do so. They do not
wish to do IL without notice to you,
which will give you the opportunity OF
remedying the difficulty, and, therefore
at the meeting Of this association held
/ Nov 9, it was resolved that your union
be notified of this complaint and re-
quested to promptly remove the trouble
by such effective action as the situation
seems TO call for.
Failing to receive due notice from
you of such effective action by Monday
Nov. Is. you are informed that the
members OF this association will b'
compelled. in order TO carry out theil
contracts to the satisfaction of theii
customers. to call TO their assistance tn,
services OF such worSmen as they may
need without requiring that they shal
be members of the union"
Although IL was stated in the com
munication that the intentions Their
expressed would be carried ont yes
terday II the conditions insisted upon
We're not complied with, the committe
later decided TO give the brotherhoo'
three days grace and not make the III
timatum operative until tomorrow. Ap
parently the wOrlSmen have no iuten
tion OF taking any notice Of the com
munication, not in any way having nc
knowledged the receipt of it, although
Il was sent by registered mail four day
ago. This. as most employers who hav
had trouble with striking employee
know, is one of their favorite pieces q
strategy-to pretend never to have re
ceived important communications fror
their employers.
No one can foresee the results likel
10 follow the strike OF the electrics
workers IT, as seems almost certain
they should insist upon striking.
would prevent the completion of som
OF the most important buildings now
course Of construction and, what
even more feared, may lead Go a ger
eral sympathetic strike. The outloo
b for peace in the labor world at III
r opening of the new year is regarded q
exceedingly ominous.