Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29

die class. The railroad construction In
Iowa and the west has helped us out hero
considerably the last summer. For instance,
members Of the Omaha Carpenters unions
arc now working on bridges and station
buildings In Iowa and west OF here on the
Union Pacific"
Carpenters All Busy.
G.. W. Miles, a member OF the press. COM
mttce Of the Carpenters union, says In
regard to the condition OF that organiza-
tion: "There are about 375 carpenters In
the union, and as far as / know there is
not an idle man. At our last meeting two
or three we're reported without work, but
places we're soon found for them. The
city is pretty solidly union now, though
there are a few non-unon men, We have
secured a raise OF 5 cents per hour; tho
demand was made about a month ago and
we succeeded. Before that wages had been
at 80 cents an hour for two years. The
prospects seem very good, not only for
the winter, hut also for spring and sum-
mcr."
President Buggy Of the Plumbers union
says: "Our membership is eighty-five
strong in good standing, and don't believe
there is a man idle. A number OF new men
are coming to town right along, both plumb
ers and steamitters, but there Is work
enough for them. The trade is in consid-
erably better shape than 1t has been for
some years. The past two years have built
1t up In good condition and wages are a
good deal better than they we're two years
ago. One schedule governs all, and that
Is 81 Ter day for eight hours and half
day OFF Saturday There are no helpers or
h2lf-taught men at the trade now, either,
A few years ago wages ran from 81 to $3.50,
and the latter price was the limit for good
men, working longer hours There are
only two unfair shops in the city now. AS
to the prospects, they seem good for the
whole winter. At least in our shop / think
the whole crew will hold on through the
winter. Work has never let down any for
two years now and l don't expect it to-
President A. McDermott of the Retail
Clerks association: "The situation OF the
clerks Is different from that OF men engaged
In any other line OF work. Cheap compe-
tition has reduced wages below what they
ought to be and good clerks are forced TO
compete with cheap and incompetent help.
But we have built up n strong organization
and in the near future we will greatly ben
eft our members by the adoption OF a min
imum scale OF wages for all the stores in
Omaha. Every union man Is working at
the present time and the union looks after
lts members to see that they have work.
we believe in equal pay for the sexes and
when the minimum scale is established that
viii be one OF the conditions OF It, The
early closing movement gave us a setback
TINS summer, but we expect to make 1t
go again In the spring. Just at present
we are all getting along very we'll"
=. NJ. Jones, secretary OF the Typograph-
ical union: There are about 27O members
In the union, of which seventy are honorary
members, having gone into business for
themselves or taken up some other work
very few idle printers are in town now.
wages are about the same as they have been
for the last five years, but they were not
cut down during the hard times. great
many printers were thrown out of work
then and our membership was reduced by
those who left town in search of work.
Those who did remain at work received the
scale wage. 1t is pretty hard to say any
thing about prospects, but work bids fair
to hold up very we'll"
Andrew Murphy, member OF the Black.
snllhs unioo There isn't good blacksmith
Idle in the whole town. There are twenty
iour men in the union, and 1t includes the
men in all but very few Of the small shops
the last few years, but there Is double the
work. so the effect Is that a man can have
steady employment and earn much more
than he used to do. Things have been pick
ing up Tor the last two years As to the
prospects, 1t is hard to say anything definite
but see no reason why the good times
should not hold out"
f. NJ. Youngs of the Printing Pressmen's
union: I'VE have thirty-sx members in good
standing, including practically all the print
ing offices in town. At present there is only
one man out OF work, but he has Just got
out OF work and by the end OF the week
will doubtless have a place. 1t Is fair to
say that all our men are working. We have
Just demanded and secured the promise OF a
new scale, TO go into effect November 81. II
effects material raise in wages and every
pressman in town stood pat on It. Until
about year and half ago there were al
| ways from five to eight men out of work
| but now there is work enough for ever,
| good man. The prospects are bright There
| Is only one question that can come up in
| the near future and that Is the scale, and WI
| expect to get that without any difficulty
| The prossmen's helpers and feeders are or.
gani2ed in a separate union, but are under
| the same jurisdiction as we are. These mer
! were never in better shape than they art
| now."
Fred Bobzin. business agent of the Bak
| eo' union THE bakers are In far bette
| condition than they have been for years
The union has eighty-hve members, includ
| ing nearly all the men in the union shops
| There are, however, a number of non unioI
| shops. A few years ago the bakers wer,
working for from So to SIS per week and tn,
| trade had run down so that there was moth
ing in it, either for the journeymen or tn,
| BOSSES Bread was sold for scarcely enough
to pay for the -four and the result was tina
a good baker could not make a living at hi
| trade-one of the best trades, too. Now wage
are SO or 81 week better than they were
year ago, and the prospects are that our con
dltions Will continue to improve"
| Machinists Are Satisfied.
A member OF the Machinists' union said
The machnists are in about the same con
dition that they have been for several year
In regard to wages, but OF course. there 1
more work than there was several year
ago, The number OF men at work in Omah
has not increased very much for the reason
that the Union Pacific shops, which emplo
the largest number of any shop in the city
have not been increasing the force here. bu
have been putting on more men all along tn
line That has taken men away from Omaha