The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-07-27
STRIKES AND THE "A. A =

President r. ]. Schaffer, Of the ANAL
gamated Association Of Iron, Steel and
Tin Workers, was a contributor to the
July 20 number Of Golfers Weekly. His
article, "Strikes and the Amalgamated
is herewith printed in full.
I regret exceedingly my ability to
properly convey satisfactory ideas Of
the Amalgamated Association or.
ganic autonomy, principles of action,
and, especially, it's position as an ar
bitter in the contention Of capital and
labor. The inability arises from the
variety and complexity arises from the
producing a nomenclature and technO-
logy which fould be meaningless to the
ordinary student Of economic problems
the limitations placed
upon the subject by these considera-
tions reduce my attempt at article
writing to mere narrative.
The Amalgamated Association was
August 4, 1876, in the city OF
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Its purpose
was to render uniform the work, condi
tons and earnings Of those who became
its members. This was made difficult
by the location Of plants. Some were
in places where fuel. transportation.
labor and other items of producing cost
were more favorable to the owners than
to those in other places; also by the
difference in productive capacity, it be-
ing conceded by all interested that a
large output Of manufactured COM
nlodities was decidedly advantageous
to the workmen, by facility Of opera
ty to control markets, in securing large
orders, which the smaller producer
could not cover in a restricted term.
AS our people work by the ton, the
above conditions resulted in such dis
PARTIES of daily earnings that dissatis-
ia ction was engendered, and complaints
pl oceeded from both sides, necessitat-
ences with the manufacturers, event.
uating in the following law:
when improved machinery is intro
duced, or new methods OF operation are
employed, which shall reduce the work
of the men and increase the output of
the mill, there shall be reconstruction
of the SCALE"
As our scales are annual contracts,
the conservatism of the Association Is
evidenced by the provision just recited,
and the progressiveness of the Ameri-
can mill worker is differentiated from
the hardness, or reluctance, of the for
eign workman, who always makes q
grievance Of an attempt to introduce
invention, improvement and special
izatiOn.
This and other conciliatory' legis1a-
ton secured for us recognition and
just treatment, as we'll as fair COM
pensation from our employers, and our
organization increased numerically,
financially, and socially-if such term
can be applied to trade-unionism when
associated with ecclesiastical ana po-
litical institutions-until the years
1890-1893 inclusive, when we lost the
steel mills of Carnegie by the Home
stead strike-lamentable affair-and the
sheet interests of Apollo and Leech.
burg, Pennsylvania, which have beer
centered in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania
the largest sheet mandatory In the
world. Exactly why we lost the latter
does not seem to be thoroughly under.
stood by any one.
The history is as follows: One Of oul
men employed by Mr.. George Nc.
Murtrie Of Apollo, Pennsylvania, violot.
ed some rule, was discharged, and 8
strike inaugurated, which was Of brie1
duration, as the president Of the Anal
gamated Association upon learning thu
cause of the trouble, Immediately mott
fed Mr. McMurtrie that the men would
be required to resume work immediate
ly and a superior workman supplied
for the position Of the recalcitrant EN-
ploye. This action was consonant will
our law and practice, but all overture'
were rejected, and a protracted strug
gle ensued, during which we were dis
possessed of the mills alluded to, ant
all new plants erected by Mr.. McMurt
RE were guarded carefully and pre-
vented from joining the organization
In a somewhat similar manner we los
the mills of Jones & Laughlin Of Pitts
burg, and few others, the latter nov
under the control of and operated b.
the American Steel Hoop Company
When business depression and an evi
competitive policy OF price-cutting hat
reduced the profits of the investor an,
the wages fthe men to a minimum
go that 1t was profitless for the forme
to remain in the business and the lat
| ter lived from hand to mouth, relic
was sought and obtained by the forma
ton of larger incorporated companie
or trusts. The Amalgamated Associa
| ton, reduced in strength by the defec
tons spoken of, was ehabilitated b.
an accession of workers from an indus
try introduced during the period of de
pression-namely, the manufacturing
Of tin plates-and when the coalition
Of firms presented the trust to the In
dustrial and commercial world, W.
essayed to initiate the example by or
ganizing all the men who labor at skill
ed jobs In the rolling mills. I reques
careful attention to and scrutiny Of tn
subjoined prevalent conditions.
The National Steel Company wa
classified by us as being composite;
e., union and non-union. employ tn
phraseology of the trade-unionist. TIL
American Steel Hoop, American Shee
Steel, and National Tube We're also o
|