The times., 1899-07-19
ALL BUILDERS TO GO OUT
The Building Trades Council Or
ders a Contingent Strike.
il the Electrical Contractors DO Not
Settle With Their Men Today
WaIkout L. 10 Occur Thurstlny-
The Electricians Refuse Terms Of
fered by Their Former Employers.


At meeting of the Building Trades
Council last night it was decided that in
the event the differences between the mem
bers of Electrical Workers Union No 26
and their former employers is not AMIGA
bly, settled by tomorrow night a general
strike of the building trades of the city will
be ordered. This action was taken in con-
sequence of the report of the representa-
tives of the Electrical Workers Union,
who stated that no agreement had been
reached between the members of the
union and the contractors. and further that
there was no likelihood of an amicable set
tlement being made.
II it becomes necessary to carry out this
determination the work of construction
and repair and improvement in the city
will be brought TO a sudden standstill. for
all trades affiliated with the council will
be compelled TO lay down their tools. 1t
is hoped by this action to prove to the con-
tractors and builders of the city that the
contractors for electrical work are stand
ing in the way OF their progress.
The terms submitted TO the contractors
on Monday. July TO- when the electrical
workers quit work, were not acceded TO by
the contractors. a conference of represent
atives of organized labor in the city and
the contractors was held on last Friday
night, but no agreement was reached. The
contractors conferred alone on Monday
night last. and submitted the following
terms to the workmen:
We the undersigned electrical contractors Of
the city of Washington agree 10 employ work
men according to the folloSing conditions, 10
take effect September l, 1893:
working day shall consist Of eight (s) hours,
actual labor, reckoned between the hours of
a m. and . p. m, except where two or more
shifts worked. The time required TO report
or assemble material at store IS not included.
The rate OF wages for all work done except
as provided in the foregoing section Of this
agreement shall be paid at the rate of time and
half time for SUNDAYS and legal holidays, viz:
New Years Day, WashingtOn's Birthday, Deco
ration Day, Fourth Of July, Thanksgiving Day,
and Christmas Day. Double time TO be paid
No electrical work will be done on the first
Monday of September Q-abor Day. except in
case Of emergency.
The rate Of pay for a journeyman will be at
minimum rate of thirty-three and two-thiIds
(SS 2-s) cents per hour, wages TO be paid weekly
When man is discharged he VIII be paid in
full within twenty-four hours thereafter.
We agree to employ not more than three ap
prentices TO every five journeymen electrical
workers. Helpers will be worked in such manner
may be required
We agree 10 employ members of the Wiremen's
Union and request the present wiremen, II re-
taind, to become members Of said union
Any omploye who does other electrical work
than for his employer will be discharged.
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SUPPLY CO.,
JOHN r. GALLOWAY.
JOHN c. RAu,
J. H. KUEHLING,
THE HILL * MILLER CO.,
C. SCHNEIDER'S SONS,
TALLMAGE * WILSON.
This agreement was submitted to the
meeting of electrical workers held yester-
day morning and ii was promptly refused
by the union men. who claim that il would
be suicide for them TO accept such terms.
The statement attributed 20 one Of the
contractors to the effect that the members
OF the electrical workers union are get
ting hungry" is denounced as false. In
refutation OF this statement member OF
the union stated last night that there were
several of the members of the union who
are now owed wages by the contractors
and es vet they have not found IL necessary
to demand payment Aside from this 1t Is
alleged that there is money enough in the
treasury of the union to pay the men regu-
lar wages for six weeks If it becomes nee
essary.
As another evidence that the members of
the union are not hungry or liable to be-
come so In the near future. II is said that
their action having been endorsed by the
two central bodies, the Central Labor
Union and the Building Trades Council.
the thirty or more local unions affiliated
with these organizations have already con-
tributed from S25 to $50 each to the strike
fund.
In this connection 1t was stated that some
Of the contractors have already offered to
financially help those members Of the
union who had been in their employ. So
1t IS generally believed that even If some
OF the employers continue to resist enter
ing into an agreement with the workmen,
the others Will still stand firm by the
union men. AS a matter OF fact, from
statements made by several of the electrl-
cal workers last night, it would appear
as though the contractors are more anxious
Cor & settlement OF the differences than
yhe workmen. 1t is said that several OF the
contractors who refused to sign the agree
1nent submitted by the electrical workers
have large contracts on hand which their
agreements require shall be finished at
an early date and in the event OF the trou-
tle not being amicably settled 1t is believed
that II will be impossible for them to full
fill the contracts in the time stated.
The leading members of the union, II is
understood. have decided that IN case tne
trouble is not settled very soon the mem
/ters OF the union will start work in the
city upon the cooperative plan. They
say they have the best OF mechanics in
their line and that they can and will re-
ceive the financial backing OF all organ
lied labor in Washington. Under these
circumstances they feel satisfied that they
will not only be able to make union
wages. but also control to a great extent
the electrical work in The city.
The terms submitted by the contractors.
the workmen say, offer them no induce
ment to go back to work, except a slight
difference In wages. The maximum Of
fered. however, is far below what they de-
mand. The exaction that they SHOULD lose
time and consequently money in going
from one place to another for material
with which 10 do their work. they say, is
unheard OF, and this. in the end, would
cause them greater loss than the proposed
gain OF increased wages.