The times., 1899-07-11
ELECTRICIANS ON STRIKE
They Demand an Increase of Pay
and Fewer Hours of Work.
The Central Labor Union Endorses
the object of the Strikers and VIII
Lend Them Assistance - The
Trouble Has Been Brewing for
Some Time-The Form of Contract.

The members of Electrical Workers
Union, No. rs. Of this city, yesterday
struck for higher wages and shorter hours.
The matter had been under consideration
for some time and by agreement arrived
at last week every member Of the union
refused to go to work yesterday morn
ing when it was known that the local
contractors for electrical work declined to
accede to the demands made.
The strike will affect nearly every shop
in the city where electrical work Is done.
1t will not, however, affect the work of
either CT the local electric plants, the tele-
phone or telegraph companies.
The local union has a membership OF
one hundred, and every one of these, it
was stated last night, had quit work. de-
termined not to return to the shops un-
til the demand for higher wages and
shorter hours is granted by the contract
ors.
+ 1t has been suggested that the local
contractors can fill the places of the
strikers with non-union men, gathered in
this city and in Baltimore. The ability
of the contractors to do this. however. is
denied by the strikers, who say that IL
all the Don-union electrical workers in
both cities could be secured they would
not be sufficient to meet the demand. In
connection with this 1t was also stated
by union men that in several instances
the nom union men in Washington. act
ing in sympathy with the union men, have
refused to work longer at the rate OF
wages paid by the contractors.
The matter was called to the attention
of the Central Labor Union last night by
the delegates from the strikers union and
after hearing the statement of the condi-
tion of affairs and the causes which led
to the strike the union, without discussion,
unanimously endorsed the course puaued
by the electrical workers. After the meet
ing a prominent striker stated that it is
not the intention of that body to send a
committee to confer with the local con-
tractors on the subject The contractors.
he understood, had stated that the union
men could not afford to stay out longer
than three days. In this, he said, they
are making a mistake. II a settlement Is
not reached soon, the union man stated.
the strikers will seek employment else
where
For long time the men have contended
that they were inadequately paid and
were compelled to work nine hours a day.
which is an hour more than members of
their craft work in other cities, and long
SF NOuTS tHan tudL OF any OF lHe OIleT
organized trades in Washington. They
say they repeatedly complained to their
employers, but received no redress or
promise of a betterment of this condition.
They had been working nine hours for
from 81 to $3.50 per day. while in other
large cities electrical workers are paid
from SO to $3.50 per day for eight hours
work.
On June "a the union men, after their
ployers, submitted the following form of
contract to their employers. Their refusal
to accept it resulted in the strike, which
commenced yesterday morning.
1t is distinctly agreed and understood that no
member OF the n. d. +. W. shall do-any work on
the first Monday in September Labor Day), and
that all electrical work which the parties to
this agreement may be engaged shall cease on
that day.
Each member of this union shall receive the
minimum scale of three (S0 dollars per day.
Wages shall be paid weekly, and shall
be paid less than four 90 hours wages for any
one day or portion thereof except he quit Of
his accord.
When man is discharged or laid off he shall
be paid in fill at once, paid the regular wages
for all time he is kept in waiting for his money.
NO individual agreement between any member
of this union and any party signing this agree
ment shall be allowed which will in any way
alter or modify any of the terms Of this agree
ment
No individual, firm, or corporation signing
this agreement shall employ more than one ap-
prentice or helper to every four iourneymen cleo
tric workers or portion thereof.
No individual, Arm, or corporation signing this
agreement shall employ anyone in any part OF any
electrical construction any repair work who
is not entitled 10, or not in possession OF,
paidup monthly working card Of this union,
an uneNpired permit signed by a business agent
OF this union.
All differences arising between the parties Of
this agreement shall be referred for settlement
20 an arbitration committee. This arbitration
committee shall consist OF one member of this
union, one OF the contractors, and third party
who is not directly interested, the latter to be
selected by the first two. 1t shall he the duty
of this committee to investigate all questions
referred to it, and 70 report its decisions and
recommendations. 1t is also agreed and under
stood that none Of the specific articles of this
agreement shall be subiect to arbitration
sympathetic strike, when ordered by the
Building Trades Council its business agent,
shall not be considered violation of this agree
ment
1t is distinctly understood that no member ii
this union shall contract for, or do work other
than Tor his employer, when regularly employed
by any individual, firm, corporation signing
this agreement, except by permission from said
employer.
The Central Labor Union. besides en-
dorsing the action of the electrical work
ers, appointed a committee to act in con-
junction with them at the proper time. A
delegation of about fifty strikers visited
the Central Labor Union last evening.
When they announced the action they had
taken they were heartily applauded.
1t was reported that a committee was
also appointed to wait on the proprietors
and managers Of the local breweres, with
a view to settling the differences between
the brewers and the Brewery Workers
Union.
The chairman of the joint committee In
charge of the arrangements for the OBJ
servance of Labor Day reported that salts
factory progress was being made