The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-15
MAKE A STATEMENT
Carpenters Tell of Their Grievances
Against tho Contractors.

The carpenters strike IS still on and
from now on hesbattle viii be waged
fiercer than ever BY their action Tues
/ day night the contractors showed a de
are going into the matter body and soul
as IS evidenced by the following state
ment issued by the executive and arbi-
/ 1ation committee yesterday;
wichita. Kan, Nav II. 1879.
The members OF the Carpenters union,
! believing that the public is entitled 10 a
statement of the true facts surrounding
the present differences between them
| selves and the carpenters desire TO pre-
| sent the following statement:
The United Brotherhood Of Carpenters
and Joiners OF America is an Organiza-
ton OF mechanics and apprentices with
over %. e9 members in the United states.
Among their aims and purposes Is the
I protection of mechanics by securing
more equitable wage shorter work day.
that the unemployed may have an op-
portunity 10 live and which shorter work
day now prevails IN over 800 cities Of
! the United States. and 10 secure fair
rules and regulations under which 70
labor. TO secure these conditions crgani-
cation is necessary. We believe that the
wealth producer should share some Of
the benefits OF the present era of pros
perity; in fact. unless an increase ~
wages Is secured equivalent to the in
creased cost OF the necessities of life,
our boosted prosperity viii mean reduc-
ton of our earning and saving capac-
ity. In order 10 be fair with our en-
ployers. our union notified them on jan
Uary sth that eight hours and $3.50 per
day would be the minimum scale for
carpenters (Which means an average me
chanic, not an apprentice as they would
have you believe for 1902 and 10 base
their bids accordingly On April lsf the
scale was presented to each contractor
for his approval and signature. Eacn
one said: I viii sign if the others VIII
sign The whole month of April was
taken up trying 10 get a settlement or
conference with them in order 10 know
their objection and 10 secure a solution
of the trouble. They would not meet
our committee in conference. nor would
they settle by signing the contract
Each was notified that unless a scale
was signed by May 9Th. a suspension Of
work would be ordered. and the result
was that on the morning of May 9th the
men on each Job We're called of where
the contractor had not signed.
THE position Of our union is that
wage Garner has a right 10 have voice
in making the wages and other rules
and regulations under which he IS to be
employed; also that ne has a right to
be represented by committee TO transact
such business for him as he may author l
ize, just the same as any other bus
iness enterprise which IS transacted BY
representatives.. The resolution passed !
by the contractors association. denOunc-
ing the union as tyraDnical and agree
Ing not 10 recognize the union men is
hardly consistent with the action of the
contractors towards the workingmeu Of
this city, who have perfected their or
ganization for the purpose of promoting
and protecting their best interests through !
the cooperation and unity Of organiza- |
ton. The appointment of an arbitra-
ton committee by the Carpenters union |
for the purpose of meeting a like com
mittee was a standing invitation 10 them
70 meet and confer and determine where
in our differences lay and thus be able |
TO overcome them. The efforts of the |
commissioner of labor in trying to ap-
point a committee and their utter in
difference to the subject and final refusal |
to take any action certainly indicates !
their attitude towards the workingmen Of |
this city. Their pretenses of fairness !
and desire TO settle fall TO the ground /
Of their own weight when it is shown
that every opportunity has been offered |
them as a means Of settlement. all of /
which they have refused and ignored.
The demands Of the union for an !
eight-hour day, $3.50 as a minimum wage /
for an average mechanic, and a gradu- /
ated scale of $.75 for the first year. I
500 for the second year. S225 for the /
third year for apprentices, also a gradu- /
ated scale for certain members who are !
disabled by reason OF age. must Ger /
tainly appeal 10 all fair minded men as
being just and equitable We ask the /
contractors 10 employ no man who can !
not earn for him the wages named in /
the scale and are willing 10 make that 1
part of the agreement We only ask /
that union carpenters be employed and /
given the preference OF employment only /
so far as they can supply the demand Of /
experienced mechanics.
The extra rate for overtime is an &C |
knowledged concession paid everywhere. |
The signing OF the scale for one year |
has the advantage Of securing 10 con-
tractors ard employees stable conditions /
under which 10 work. ard precludes any I
interference with the carrying out or a 1
contract and binds all parties 10 a faith /
ful performance of the same. The re-
fusal of the contractors 10 even name a 4
committee 10 confer with Us even after
our position has been SC thoroughly ex- 4
planned by the commissions &c labor /
shows to US conciusively that the infen- f.
ton OF the Master Builders Exchange T
is not only TO ignore the carpenters
organization. bat to crush out an OF
the organizations in the city.
we believe that We are standing for
q principle Of right and justice. a con-
stituuonal privilege is the right 70 or
ganize. the right 90 be represented by
committees the right 70 make agree
ments % how We shall sen our labor
and under what condluC.7s that labor
shall Dc performed. Tc deny US that
right IS TO take away the liberty that
is granted to every citizen bv the corsti-
tuition We appeal 10 all fair minded
citizens and 70 al organizations 20 give
us thor support in this effort 70 estah-
fish our rights and liberties Respect
fully.
THE EXECUTIVE AND ARBITRA-
TON COMMITTEE.
'CEAS. ROCHELLE. Pres
y. @ THnRNHI- &c.