The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-27
THE ENGINEERS sTHIf>E IN Eng
LAND ENDED.

One OF the very greatest strikes OF
trades union workmen that ever occurred
has Just ended in England in failure.
The striFers belonged to the engineer
ing trades i. e., builders OF steamships
steam engines. locomotives, etc. ana
were the Highest order and best organized
body Of mechanics in Great Britain. They
were wealthy I'm the large reserve Of
funds which they had accumulated In
their treasury for beneficial purposes and
TO support their members in the event OF
a strike. Some idea may be formed OF
the extent OF these resources when &c.,.
900 a week was paid out for months TO
the strikers.
The strike was procipitated by the men
demanding reduction Of working hours
to eight hours a day or TO forty-eisht a
week.
The employers irsisted that their trade
was bad and that the United States and
Germany were constantly undertaking
them and that not only could they not
reduce the hours of work and for that
time make their large plants Idle, but
that they must be allowed a freedom
which had Heretofore not been allowed
to management OF works by the union
workmen: CD 10 employ union or non
union men: (2) 10 arrange for piece work
at a price agreed with the workman; CD
TO pay the workman according to his
ability, and () TO determine the conditions
under which machine tools should be
used. The men refused to consent to any
Of these proposals. but after weeks OF
idleness and atfe- exhausting their funds
they agreed to Withdraw the demand for
an eght-hour day
The employers. who had formed
counter union or federation insisted upon
all their demands. as essential to the sue
ocssful operation Of their establishments,
and held out at enormous losses to both
employers and men until the men gave
up the fight.
The consequences of this conclusion OF
this great contest will no doubt put tens
Of thousands of idle men TO work and will
renew activity in British shops upon a
basis which will be very bad for America.
1t has been one Of the benefits which me-
chanical industries in America have re-
ceived from the British trades unions
| that their exactions Of their employers
especially in respect 70 the use of ma
chinery were such that with our progress
| sve methods, intelligent and reasonable
workmen, there was little difficulty in
successfully competing with England in
many products of which she formerly had
| the practical monopoly in trade foreign
| 10 both countries. America was rapid
| " outstripping England and it was the
| knowledge of this fact and of the reasons
| for it which made Mr.. Gladstone recently
declare that England was in more danger
| from the industrial disturbances at home
! than she was from foreign enemies.
1t will take some time of course for the
| British shops and workmen to become ac-
| commodated to this new condition of
| things, but when It is put into working
order. the men will feel its advantages,
and never he willing to give up the enjoy
| ment of the results OF their respective
| skill and industry. and the employers with
| their men working for a premium and
| upon new and improved machines, will OIL
fer their products at prices which
| Americans have not vet had to meet. The
| foreign market will become a veritable in
! dustrial battlefield.