The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-18
ENORMOUS STRIKE
Moulders Deliver VI
timatum to
Employers.
SWEEPING MANDS
May l Named as the Day
on Which They Must
Be Accepted.

The Iron Mouldels' union held an
overflow meeting in labor headquarters
last evening, which lasted long into the
morning, and the outcome will prob
ably create disturbance in the local
iror industries. The union, which now
practically embraces all the local
moulders, will make demands today on
all foundrymen which,ssif acceded to,
will avert a strike of long duration.
The movement on the part of the To-
cal moulders does not rest in this city,
as about all the moulders' unions of
New England are acting simultaneous
ly in the matter, and if an amicable
settlement is not effected, a general
strike all over New England will re-
suit.
At last nights meeting, it was de-
cided to present the following demands
to all the 20 or more local foundrymen
in this city: First, the recognition of
the union card; second, the abolishing
of piece work and the system known
as the day and quarter and day and
a half; third. the REIMBURSEMENT of
per day for journeymen moulders.
These demands were posted last eve
ming in special delivery letters, and
will reach the foundrymen today The
proprietors of the foundries will have
until May LIST to accede to the demands
OF the men. and If some satisfactory
arrangement is not made before then,
a general strike will be declared
1t was said last night that the foun-
n M uyn "a hn fn hat
teeth on receipt of the demands today
and order a general lockout The lead
ers of the moulders do not look for any
such action. however, and say that the
demand submitted today is just IN ev-
cry respect, and one that will even
tually benefit the employer as well as
the employed.
Similar demands will be made today
in Boston, Providence, Loves, Law
renee and every city where the iron
business is conducted in New England.
One grand effort is to be made to bring
the condition of the wages paid to the
moulders back to its state before the
dead times of a few years ago.
The first demand of the union, that
the foundrymen shall recognize the I'M
ion card will give added strength to
the union, inasmuch as no non-union
man can be employed in a shop where
abolishng of the piece system is caus-
ing many moulders a pang, for there
are mouders in this city doing piece
work and getting from IS to 81 per day
and oftentimes higher wages. The
placing of the minimum rate at So will
place the workmen all on the same
plane, as it is extremely unlikely that
the bosses will grant any of the men
higher wages than they can help.
The action of the moulders is not UNI
looked for, and will not come as a sur
prise to the bosses, as they have been
expecting something like that since the
successful termination Of the Pero
strike.
Iron business is extremely good all
over the country, and men are not
loaflng anywhere who can go to work
at the bench.
In this city there are over 300 mould
ers, all of whom practically belong to
the union. The outcome of the de-
mands of the New England moulders
will be watched with interest by all
iron workers in this country, and the
trades unionists as well.