The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-06-03
PLUMBERS QUIT WORK
EMPLOYERS REFUSE 70 ACCEDE
TO DEMANDS.
Both Sids Are Firm and the Master
Plumbers Declare the Strike
VIII Not Affect Their
Business.

The strike Of the journeymen plumbers
began yesterday morning when ali in the
city declined to go to work In accordance
with the ultimatum which they had
served upon the master plumbers. As a
result practically no plumbing work was
done ~ montgomery yesterday.
The Journeymep Numbers asked of the
master plumbers an eight-hour work day
Tor their present pay of $500 day. This
demand wis denied and after an ineffec-
the differences the plumbers quit work
The journeymen plumbers and the mas
ter plumbers are perhaps as far apart
than they have yet been. No settlement
OF the etrike is expected at an early
date.
The master plumbers say that only
eight plumbers are out on the strike. On
the other hand the journeymen plumbers
claim that the number Is much larger.
Al any rate the strike stopped all plumb
ing Yesterday In Montgomery. The mas
ter plumbers say that while no work
was done yesterday, all orders for work
will be filled within the next few days.
So far no noticeably unfriendly feeling
has developed between the strikers and
their former employers. They are still
ON good and friendly terms, although re-
lations were a little bit more strained
yesterday than on Saturday.
The committee from the journeymeu
plumbers gave out the following state
ment to define their position before the
public:
THE journeyman plumbers see no rea-
charge the public higher price for work
IL the request for an eight-hour day
made by the journeymen plumbers Is
granted. The statement that this Is neces-
sary Is not borne out by the facts.
The master plumbers receive for our
work IS cents, an hour. Four years ago
we received 40 cents an hour for ten hours
work or "a day for days work Of ten
hours At that time we were furnished
with a negro helper who was paid dol
lar day. making the total cost of jour
neymen plumbers work IS day. Later
we secured from the master plumbers
nine-hour a day agreement and pay. of.
A IL cents an hour. The negro helpers
pay at that time amounted to the old
figure. dollar q day, making Journey
man plumbers work for an hour cost
the master plumber So cents. During all
this time he received Is cents an hour for
our work and he continues to receive
that much.
ION the first day Of last January we
passed a resolution doing away with all
negro helpers and thus reducing the cost
of 5ourpeyman's labor for an hour by
10 cents. We now ask that the master
plumbers give us 30 cents an hour. which
Is cents an hour cheaper than the
figure paid before the first of January.
in view of these facts we assert that
the claim of tho master plumbers that
they will be compelled to increase their
charges from the public Is not consistent
nor borne out by the facts"
For the master plumbers yesterday one
of their number said:
THE demands of the journeyr2en in
creased SO that we were compelled to call
halt at some point. The halt was called
the same pay. At this point where their
demand If acceded to would mean in
creasing Of our charges, we decided that
we had conceded enough. We know the
charges. To show you what they have
quote literally from their by
laws and constitutions. Here are some
of the things that they ask of the master
plumbers:
"First-Ail over time shall be paid for
at the rate of double time.
"Second-That eight hours shall consti-
tute a days work. from o'clock a. m.
until u at noon, and from ! o'clock p.
m. until 5 o'clock p. m. Eight hours to
take effect June 1. 1902.
'"Third-That any member having to go
to shop for material or advice. shall
not report before the regular hour Of
work.
"Fourth-That members working twelve
or more blocks distant from the shop
shall have his car fare paid to and from
the job.
"Fifth-That members shall not receive
less than one-half days Day-for any
fraction of time.
"Eleventf-No member shall be allowed
to use a bicycle or any other vehicle. un-
less II be the property of employer.
Our position in the matter is clear,
We cannot allow their request without
increasing the cost of work TO the public
and this we will not do. We expect to-
night to have in Montgomery six plum
bers to take the places of those that
have gone out. We will all cooperate
with each other in pressing work. Near
ly all of the master plumbers are prac-
ticaI workmen and by cooperation we
can do the greater part of the work."