The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-04-28
LOCAL MASONS ON STRIKE.
They Want an Eight hour Day and The
Same Pay.

They Want an Eight hour Day and The
Same Pay.
The local masons and bricklayers de-
manded an 8-hour day and failing to OBJ
tain this concession from the contractors
went on strike yesterday morning. This
action was decided upon at a meeting of
the Bricklayers and Masons International
Union, No. 81, of New Jersey, held in
the York building, Wednesday night,
and not member went to work yester-
day. The union here includes mechan-
les at Madison and Morris Plains, and
has membership of 1870. all OF whom
will be affected by the strike.
The laborers, who have a distinct
union, are not in sympathy with the
movement and are working as usual.
Masons here receive "a cents. while la
borers are paid % cents an hour. Con-
tractors are firm in their decision not to
yield to the strikers and at meeting Of
the men last night they decided to
use every reasonable means to gain their
point.
1t is claimed by the strikers that the
contractors agreed some time ago that
the eight-hour rule should go into effect
and that, at joint meeting three weeks
ago some of the contractors were willing
to sign an agreement to that effect if the
builders not present concurred. AT a
meeting called later only two contractors
were present and the men were notified
that their employers would not sign the
agreement.
The contractors think the strike I'M
called for as well as ill-timed The sea
son of building activity is just beginning
and the delay caused by this action of
the men will not tend to improve con-
ditions Masons and laborers are among
the best paid workingmen and although
eight hours constitute days work in
the city the contractors contend that con-
ditions are different. In the city, brick
layers lay brick; stone cutters dress
stone, ETC., each doing some specific
work, hence more is required of the
workman than when they do general
work as in smaller towns. Then too,
contractors say that, if the strikers de-
mand was granted there would be fric-
ton among those mechanics in town
who are working nine hours.
1t is understood that not few masons
are opposed to the present strike and for
that reason did not attend the meetings
held by the Union this week. The
strikers said last night that E. E. Ball.
who has the Wolfe job at Normandie
Park, and HI. E Howard, now building
the Madison town hall, had both con-
sented to sign the agreement.
Work is about at stand still on many
buildings though most of the contractors
are working themselves. Sturges Broth
ers have in course of construction five
large contracts. They are house and
stable for F. A. Bell, the Episcopal rec
tory, gate lodge and entrance for H.
NICK. Twombly and an addition to R. A.
McCurdy's house at Morris Plains
Sturges Brothers employed about IS
men.
Contractor Thomas Malley is remod-
cling the house of Vice Chancellor John
r, Emery and has large job at Sing
Sing, N. Y. He had been employing
twenty-five men.
John Corbett, who is erecting the
James Library building at Madison, was
employing 20 men.
Dempsey & SCooney have contracts for
house for Mrs. March at Headley Place
and another for Miss Bushnell on Madi-
son avenue. This firm was also remod-
cling the Wheelock or old Dodge house
on Morris street. They had II masons
at work before the strike.
Jacob Scherzer has the contract for the
Theiler building on Speedwell avenue and
his twelve men are among the striking
workmen.
Louis PARCELS is the contracting mason
for the new Reeve & Burr houses on
Sussex avenue He had ten men at
work. Louis Clark is erecting the
Romine house at Headley Place and his
men, 10 in number, joined the strikers.
Contractor John d. Collins, who is
engaged principally in jobbing just now.
employed about % men. Another con-
tractor effected is William Sudden.
The last strike in Morristown previous
to the present trouble occurred in 1890.
when the time for a days work was
changed from 10 to 8 hours. The officers
of the local Bricklayers and Masons
Union are Joseph Doyle, president !;
Patrick Doyle, vice-president John
Murphy, corresponding secretary; Will
liam Dempsey, financial secretary Free
man Ayers, recording secretary, and
t..