Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-01
LABORERS GO OUT
Carpenters and Joiners Want
 Nine Hour Day.
WITH NO REDUCTION IN PAY.

The Bosses Refuse to Yield and One
 Hundred and Fifty Men are Idle Toz
 day7Masons and Bricklayers also
 Threatened to Go Out-For the
 Present Temporary Agreement has
 Been Made.
 A short time ago it was the painters and paper hangers. To-day it is the carpenters and joiners, about 15O of whom quit work this morning owing to the refusal of the employers to ac- cede to the demands of the union which are substantially as followss That nine hours shall constitute a days work with a minimum wage of $2.50 per day from May to September 1, and after that eight hours to coI- stitute a days work with no reduction in wages. One apprentice to be allowed to exery six Workmen. The conditions also provide that none but union men shall be employed by contractors sigas ing the articles of agreement. So far MT Ashborn is the only one who has signed. He employs ten men, His help went to work this afternoon.
 There seems to be no difference ov~ CT the hours or wages, the principal objection on the part of employers be-} ing on the matter of union men, some of the latter taking the ground that 1t is unfair to prevent them from hiring suitable men whether they belong to the union or not. None of the contrac- tors object to the union men. The lat- ter claims that contractors all over tlaaI country have compiled with the de- mands and that Waterbury carpenters arc about the last to come to nm understanding on this point with their employers. They feel that a confer- ence among the principal builders will result in strengthening out the differs ence without any serious trouble.
 There are between 300 and 400 join~ CTS and carpenters in Waterbury and at present about half of them belong tQ the union.
 It was thought that the masons and bricklayers would be out to-day, to0x but the bosses and a committee repre- senting the union met last night and fixed things up for the present bE granting one concession to the menv that is an increase of 3 cents per hour for the minimum wages which is now 3S cents an hour instead of B cents. They work but nine hours, and that is as short day as they want for th1H season, but they would like an agree- 5ment for an eight hour day to coIa- emence September l, the same as tlx8e carpenters, but it was agreed to defer action upon this matter until that time This must not be taken as an indication that the union will not press its claim for the shorter day in the faIl- They are all at work and everything is moving very tremendously in that line of trade, and so far as can be learned there is no jar between the masof1S and bricklayers and their employers.
 The situation is quite different iz1| the joinering business, and unless either party gives in there is sure to be clash which will seriously inter- ferc with the business of the whole community. Some of the builders de- clare that they will not yield to the7s demands of the union and that if the conditions warrant such a course on their part they will shut down and close their doors until they are per- mitted to conduct business on basIa which they are satisfied will pay. |
 Already the effect of what is c0mj11&x or rather what cautious people fear, has been felt in the money market, and the money loaners have clasped a tighter hold of their cash 50 that a man who could negotiate loan to build new house last month without much trouble cannot make much headway in that direction today The big manufacturing concerns about town have decided upon a plan of ac- ton and are determined to put up d stubborn fight against the machinistS and toolmakers so that unless the wise heads on both sides get together Wa terbury is on the verge of witnessing it's first real labor trouble. It looked more like it to-day than ever before, when large numbers of joiners and carpenters were seen walking about town while many who were not awai'a the workmen of this building and that building had stopped, leaving the structures unfinished.
 This is a question which concerns every resident of Waterbury. and lt is the earnest hope of all prudent pe0- pie that it will be settled before a1ly- thing happens that will interfere with the progress and growth of the city or the financial standing of any firm, iIa- dividual or family. Tie employers and the representatives of the unions should get together and talk the mat ter over and if each can make some concessions which would tide oyer7the threatened calamity 1t is their duty to do it and no time should be lost in coming to an understanding about this whole matter, if such a thing be possi- ble.