Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-30
THE AMALGAMATED ASSOCIATION
ORDERS = SHEET MILL MEN
10 STRIKE.
TRUST REFUSED TO SIGN
SCALE FOR ALL THE MILLS.
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN ARE
AFFECTED, AND MORE MAY
BE CALLED OUT.
THE DEMANDS OF THE UNION.
PRESIDENT SHAFFER DECLARES
THE FIGHT MAY AS WELL BE
FINISHED NOW.

Special to the Register.
PITTSBURG, Pa, June pa crisis
in the Industrial conditions of the
try is Imminent by the failure of the
American Sheet Steel Company and
AmalgAmated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tia Workers to agree on a wage
scale to-day. The scale in point Of
wages does not demand any advance
over lagt year.
The Sheet Steel Company officials
conceded the wage rate, but declined to
sign the scale for two plants that were
recognized as union plants by last
years agreement. They had since that
time, it is claimed, arranged a local
scale for these plants, and insisted on
it's continuance. The workers commit
tee refused to recognize the right OF a
few employees to make a scale for a
greater number, and insisted on having
the organization govern at least the
same number OF mills that it had done
during the scale year now closed. Nell
Their party to the controversy would re-
eede, and the conference closed without
any future arrangements for a continu-
ance of negotiations.
The strike ordered by President Shaf-
fer includes only the sheet mill work
ers. but it is known to be he settled
intention of the A~malgamated Assoc1a-
ton to meet force with force. If the
strike CT the sheet mill men drags be-
yond a reasonable time the Amalga-
mated men employed in all the plants
of the nUited States Steel Corporation
will be called out. This in turn would
be folio we'd by the calling out of FEEDER
alton OF Labor employees till every iron
and steel works in the billion-dollar
trust is closed.
The sheet wage scale conference be-
tween the American Sheet Steel Com
pany officials and d committee of the
Amalganaated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers broke up to-day in a
disagreement as to the mills to which
the union scale should apply. The
question of the wage rate had been
satisfactorily settled, when the sheet
steel officials precipitated the trouble
by making a proposition that the new
scale Should not include the mills of
Saltzbusg, Old Meadow. at Scottdale,
and the Wood plant at McKeesport. The
members of the workers committee
We're ~astounded at the proposition, as
Salisbury and Old Meadow had been in
cluded in the agreement with the Anal
gamated Association last year, and it
is claimed that a live local organization
still EXISTS in those mills. The manu-
features attempted to prove that these
concerns were not properly classed as
union mills by producing copies of in
diyidual scale agreements with the
workmen of the plants. President T. J.
Shaffer. of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton. as soon as the proposition was
placed before the conference, took the
position that since last year a number
of mills that were then classed as nom
union, had been organized and that the
present wage agreement should cover
the open mills as we'll as those that
were included in last years agreement.
He continued: "Your proposition re-
minds one Of the fable of the farmer |
and the bundle of fagots. This year
O propose to curtail the union mills
by looping off three OF our local organ |
izations and whose scale you had sign |
ed without question last year. You also
refuse to recognize the organization at
McKeesrort, although you have recent
ly treated with US in regard TO its af-
fairs. We must insist on the scale for
every union mill at least, and as you
have thrown down the challenge for a
contest, [. as president of the Amalga-
mated association of Iron. Steel and
Tin Wos kers, will take it up and will
put the issue squarely before the people |
whom I represent"
The conference was without further
ceremony declared ended without fix
ing any date for a future meeting, or
without any apologies on either side
for the stubborn stand taken.
President Shaffer and his committee |
went at once to the headquarters of the
organization and advised the different
vice. presidents of the various districts
Of the result of the conference. A call
was issi ed for a meeting of the asvis- |
DRY board of the organization at which
action OF the conference committee will
be approved. The members OF the
committee on the sheet scale have all
arranged to leave the city to-day, and
tonight, and active preparations are !
being made to call OUT the 81. 200 men
employed in the sheet mills before the
close of the day.
Prominent members of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron, Steel and
Tin WORKERS who are in the city to-day |
to take part In the bar iron and sheet
conference. are all satisfied that no
other course than a suspension of the
sheets plants can settle the question at |
issue. A we'll known iron worker said. |
Our organization during tae year I'M
der the open mill policy has succeeded
IN getting a large number of members
IN many Of the so-called non-union
Mills. We have during the year or
Eautzed McKeesport, WelIsville, a Dor-
Ion ~ the Vandergrift. and the Leech-
burr plants Of the American Sheet
Steel Company. Actually the sheet com
%E