Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-02
s TRIKE PROBABLE
CARRIAGE MAKERS UNION DE-
MANDs ADVANCE IN WAGES.
The Employers Said to Be Averse to
Granting the Increase-The
U1timatum.

At the meeting of Carriage Makers
Union No. u, held last night, it was decid-
ed to order q strike in all shops in the
District that do not comply with the de-
mands Of the organization. The union is
holding out for minimum scale Of $3.50 fol
an eight-hour day, with time and half
for overtime and double time for Sundays
and holidays. The hours, 1t is stipulated,
shall be from 1880 a. m. to D. M, with
thirty minutes for lunch. There are about
twenty firms in the District employing 16C
men, and both the carriage makers and
bosses are well organized.
The union sent communication to the
firms last Thursday in which the demands
were stated. and an answer by Saturday,
April 5, was requested. In case no written
reply shall be received from the firm by
that date It is to be taken as a refusal to
grant the demands and none of the men
employed in these shops will return to
work Monday morning. 1t was stated at
the meeting that one two firms had al
ready sent communications acceding to the
new scale and that other employers had
verbally promised to comply.
The Central Labor Union Endorsed the
new scale Monday night and the union Is
determined to make a fight.
The equipment committee has authority
to establish cooperative shop for the en-
ployment of union men. who may be thrown
out of work in consequence of the strike.
The replies received from employers, If
there shall be any, will be considered at a
special meeting of the union Sunday at 2
pm, and an open meeting will be held at
pm. A joint committee has been appoint
ed to hold conference with the bosses
should 1t be desired, but 1t Is not au-
thorized to make any change in the de-
mands.
The joint committee consists of William
F. Langraf. president; J, T. Gately,r vice
president; Thomas H. Brinkman. secretary;
David Fegan, financial secretary; Samuel
L. Drummer. treasurer, and C. B. Wandel,
John W. Baker, James L. Stevens John II.
Brinkman. James W. Bright, William
Haines, Joseph Carroll and C. H. Wiesen-
born. The last eight named represent the
four branches Of the trade-the painters
trimmers. blacksmiths and woodworkers.
Several members of the union. when seen
today. said the organization is determined
to enforce the demands. They said the
per week and the average wages amount
to about 81 per day. They are under the
impression that the bosses will comply
with their request for an advance.
Inc employers will hold meeting to-
night, when some concerted action Will be
taken in the matter. Several Of the leading
employers told a Star reporter today that
the action to be taken by the firms is not
the demands will be refused. They also
were inclined to doubt the report that any
of the firms had accepted the proposition
for an increase In the scale.
They stated that the laborers whose
wages the union desired to advance are I'M
skilled workmen and are receiving SUM-
Gent pay for the service they render The
minimum wages, they said, for this class
OF workmen is about $1.75 per day, and
they are not permanently employed.
1t was stated further that work In the
District is done on a very small margin
and that to advance wages would be a
difficult matter, as the prices Of manufac-
ture would have to be advanced according
ly and the trade would not be inclined to
accept the increased rates.
1t Is likely that there will be some pro-
longed disagreement unless a compromise
can be effected, but such a course has not
yet been suggested.