The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-07
ROACH IN TOWN.
Vice President Of Iron
Moulders of
America.
TALKS ON THE STRIKE HERE.
No Probable Change in
Local Schedule Of
Prices.
TALKS ON THE STRIKE HERE.

Vice President James E. Roach of the
Iron Moulders' Union Of North America
conferred with President j. P. f. Frey
of the local union in this city yester-
day.
The session of the special convention
of the National Founders Association
opens at Niagara Falls Wednesday, and
the crisis will come in the pending set
Element of the strike in this city and
Providence.
George B. buckingham, manager OF
the Arcade Malleable Iron Company,
Stephen Holman, manager of the Hol-
yoke Machine Company, and Edgar B.
Pierce of the Wheeler Foundry Com
pany, are local members of the asso-
citation. Mr.. Buckingham said last
night that he had not fully decided
whether to attend the Niagara Falls
convention, although it is probable that
Worcester will be represented.
MesSrS. Roach and Frey discussed the
situation thoroughly yesterday and
were both of the opinion that there will
be no radical change, as a result of the
convention, in the schedule of wages
| now IN effect in local union foundries.
Vice President Roach, when seen by
hS OQy 1Ildil last evening, SdlQ. Oul
demands for the abolition of piece
work and the establishment and recog
milton of minimum wage rate will be
| considered at the convention The
founders have acted fairly in efforts tt
affect a settlement of the strike in this
city, and there will probably be nc
| action of a hostile nature at the Ma.
tioEal Founders Association conven.
| ton.
1.-THE result of the session will be Of
national interest and Importance i
favorable action is taken, 1t will be the
| first admission on the part of the foun-
ders to recognition of minimum wage
rates. No uniform rate can be adopt.
ed throughout the country, as some sec.
| tons work under more favorable aus.
pieces than others. For example, in
San Francisco, moulders are paid al
the minimum wage rate of $3.50 pei
day. That is rs cents more per day
than Worcester moulders are receiving
| hut 1t ould be unfair to demand suct
wages of local founders.
II have talked with several Of the
| officers. of the association, and from
Mhatd have learned, believe that de-
cisfve action regarding a final settle
Hent will be left to a committee from
fthe association which will be author
lied to convene with a committee from
the Moulders national organization.
When asked as to the standing Of the
Standard Foundry Company, the new
Worcester foundry, Vice President
Roach said: mo trouble is anticipated
at the new foundry, and union wages
and union men will probably be in
vogue there. The scarcity of good
moulders makes it almost necessary for
foundry firm to recognize the union
IN order to secure competent workmen
Vice President Roach furnished The
Spy man with interesting figures from
the reLorts Of the national convention
which have not yet been made public
He said that the actual cost of holding
the Indianapolis convention was $24,-
oO0, sum thousands Of dollars larger
than any other labor organization ever
expended in bringing together it's dele
gates from local unions.
The membership of the national union
fas increased 10000 in the past year,
ana there is now total membership of
over 10000. Vice President Roach was
voted an increase of 10 per cent in his
salary, now receiving $1100 for his work
IN behalf of the national organization
Mr.. Reach will leave this morning
for Biddeford, Me-, to which place he
was summoned last night by telegraph,
Local unions in that city and Portland
recently demanded an increase in
wages, and the advice of Vice Presi
cent Roach is sought in determining
the policy OF the local unions.