The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-14
DEMANDING EIGHT HOURS
THE LABORERs WANT SHORTER
WORKING HOURS.
Bricklayers Will Require Short Day
Next Year-Carpenters about to Make
Similar Demand-Little Opposition.

In an official announcement made
this morning by the Bricklayers' Asso-
citation notice was served on the con-
tractors that the members of that orga-
nization would work only eight hours
day after January 1, 1901. This ac-
tion upon the part of the bricklayers
was not unexpected for ii is but a part
of a general movement among the
working men of Honolulu to secure
shorter hours. Hitherto a days work
has consisted of about nine hours but
the plumbers and painters inaugurated
the eight hour system and other crafts
have followed their lead. The carpen-
ters have called a meeting for this even
ing in Painters Hall on King street
when the question of an eight hour rule
will be discussed. There is little doubt
but the scale will be adopted as no OPP
position appears to have been encoun-
tered.
The stone cutters have already served
notice upon the contractors that they
will demand the enforcemen6 of the
eight hour rule September 10. This has
been acceded to in practically every in
stance. In fact the contractors are Of
fering little or no opposition to the la
Dor organizations in their demand for
shorter hours. An unusually large
amount of building is being done in Ho-
nolulu at present and the contractors
are in need of all the help they can OBJ
tain, and at the present time they are
to an extent, at the mercy of the work
ing men. AS a result they do not con-
slider it worth their while to oppose the
demand for a shorter days work. Some
of the contractors say that the more
skilled labor will perform nearly as
much work in eight hours as in nine,
and the difference, if any, is so slight
that it will not make enough difference
q tn nj Ryh
against the movement.
1T is all very we'll said a prominent
contractor this morning for the men
to demand this eight hour day but the
time may come when they will be glad
to go back to the old scale. 1t is a very
busy time now in building but l have
seen it here when bricklayers and others
could not get a days work. 1t will be
that way again and when it is they will
be only too anxious for an opportunity
to work nine hours. The contractors
are, to an extent, tied down and / don't
think it is wise for them to try and fight
against the men. The only thing which
we resent is the attempt on the part
of few men to bulldoze us. some of
my men said one morning that they
would not work unless they were given
an eight hour day at once Our busi-
ness is exactly the same AS any other.
We want a reasonable notice of the In
tention of the men to demand change.
1t is not right for them to come down
suddenly on us and refuse to work un-
less they are given shorter time that
day 1 think that it is far better after
all that universal rule be in operation.
l have one building where the plumbers
and painters work only eight hours
while the carpenters go to work an hour
before them. I admit that the climate
here is different from that in the States
and the men up there are working only
eight hours a day