The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-27
Big Minneapolis Millers Grant the
Eight-Hour Day Asked by
the Operatives.
With This Goes an Increase Of About
40 Per Cent in the Mems
Wages.
The Operatives Will Meet To-mor-
row to Decide Whether They
Will Accept.

Minneapolis milers have receded from
their first position, and to avoid fight
have conceded the demands Of the opera
tives for eight hour day. With this
concession as to hours goes revision or
the wage scale equal to an advance on
presnt wages Of 40 per cent per hour This
concession is far greater than 1t was
generally believed the millers would grant
and means heavy increase to them in
the amount paid out for wages just
what it means to them may be judged
from the fact that for every Sc now paid
out by them in wages they will hereafter
pay $40 Instead of two men at IS
day, the new schedule will necessitate
the employment Of three men on eight
hour shifts at Csc an hour. And it will
cost the millers $240 day more to get
the same returns in the form of labor
The wages Of the machine tenders, ana
oilers have been adjusted on the same
basis, while the demands of the sWeepers
have been granted in full
If the proposition is accepted by the men
at the meeting tomorrow, the Mime
apolis mills will then have wage scale
materially higher than any In the country.
It has been questioned whether this VIII
not be in some degree detrimental to the
interests of the employees in the long run,
since it is probable that this new schedule
will bring to Minneapolis many flour mill
employees temporarily idle or dissatisfied
with their pISStlll pOSlliOllS. A'I1iy Ahi-
Waukee miers are paying only $40 day
for 1912 hours work, and in the country
mills of Minnesota, the average for II
hours Of labor is $3.50, while the Mime
apolis mllers now offer $3.50 for eight
hours work.
Were it not that conditions In the flour
trade have shown decided Improvement
over last May, when the demands were
FIRST made, the millers would not now be
nble to grant their men these conces-
BionS.
Answer Carefully Considered.
The millers have delayed making their
answer in order that they might discuss the
subject from every possible standpoint
md grant everything in their power. TO
this end several conferences were held
and the schedule to be submitted to the
men was finally adopted at yesterday s
meeting This represents the final con-
uideration Of the question by the mlllers,
and should the men refuse 1t. the strike
will be on 1t is the opinion that the men
will not refuse it, if the conservative ele-
ment predominates at the meeting
1t is the hope of the millers that the
older employees will attend the meeting
tomorrow and counterbalance the youn-
ger and more radical element, as 1T is
believed the new proposition appeals ia
yorably to the older men. The reply Of
the managers to the men. through the va
rious foremen is as follows:
"A 'committe Of the Flour Mill En-
ployes' association waited on the milling
companies of Minneapolis Sept. "a, 1902,
and demanded eight-hour day with
out reduction in the present pay for a
twelve hour day.
I'VE know that many Of our men are
members of the above union, but we also
know that some Of our men are not AS
It is impossible for us to meet all OF our
men personally, we ask that you meet
make them the following statement:
1T is not our intention to oppose you
or your union, but when it comes to the
question of wages and hours. that is a
business question to be met in bus1-
ness way and we must simply repeat our
answer made to you on May II of this
year. that Minneapo mills cannot pay
for eight hours work higher wages than
mills in all other sections of the country
pay for twelve hours work. Your work
is mainly experimenting machines ana
Is different from the work of men in many
other emplOyments, and you cannot, as
is claimed for many other er1p!oyments.
do as much work In eight hours as in
twelve hours.
"a change from two to three shifts is
radical change, but when you add to
this demand the payment of more wages
for eight hours work than other mills
pay for twelve hours work, your demands
are unreasonable, and if granted are like
" to prove disastrous to the milling inter-
ests Of Minneapolis. 1t is impossible to
foresee all of the results Of such radi-
cal change. But two results are clear
one unfavorable to the mill owners and
the other unfav orabe to the mill opera
tives i,
1.-The first is that Minneapolis mills
will be handicapped in their competition
with mills at other points, for wages
cannot be advanced at other milling CEN
tiers and in country mills, because the
small number Of men there emp d !
will prevent their effective organization
The second is that the attractive
eight hour day will draw to Minneapolis
competent millers from other points, anc
thus make greater supply of skilled Ia
Dor here to compete with you. Already
our mail brings us applications from out
side millers asking for places II we adopt
the eight-hour day.
If however, you have fully made uI
your minds that you want an eight-houl
day, we are willing to make the change
and to show our intention of treating ou1
men literally, we agree to pay the fol-
lowing wages:
The millers now receiving So, to receive
rs cents per hour for eight hours.
Machine men now receiving $3.50, tC
receive 30 cents per hour for eight hours
Machine men now receiving $2.25, tc
receive 26 cents per hour for eight hours
Oilers now receiving D., 10 receive 20 It
cents per hour for eight hours.
Sweepers now receiving $1.75, to receive
AZ cents per hour for eight hours.
This gives you the eight-hour schedule
you have desired. and in addition very
large increase in the hourly wage.
IF this PROPOSITION is turned down. W.
shall shut down our mills or employ othe
men who are more reasonable in thei
demands -..-