New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-06
A TIN PLATE AGREEMENT.
REPRESENTATIVES, OF EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES AGREE ON WAGE RATE.

An agreement was reached yesterday between
the American Tin Plate Company and repre-
sentatives of the Amalgamated Association of
Iron and Steel Workers, by which the present
scale OF wages will rule until July |, 1903 The
terms of the agreement will prevent the closing
down of the mills in any future conferences be-
tween now and 1903 and make a strike, which
would have affected about fifty thousand peo-
pie. impossible up TO the time it expires.
The agreement was signed by the officers Of
the company and the committee of the Amalga-
mated Association, headed by President Theo-
dore T. Shafer. which arrived here on Monday.
1t the result of conferences between the
company and the companys representatives, in
the offices of the company.,at No. "a Safest
beginning on Tuesday and lasting until late last
night The officials Of the company referred
the reporters TO President Shaffer for any de-
tails and Shaffer made the following state
ment at the Stevens House, after the last con
ference over, to Tribune reporter:
The American Tin Plate Company through H.
3. Leeds, its first vice-president asked. before
the conferences, that | APPOINT committee to
meet the representatives of the company This
request being in consonance with our constltl-
ton and similar conferences having taken place
WIN other companies was complied WIN. me
purpose of the company in calling the confer
ence was to secure, if possible the unlnterrupt-
ed operation Of its plant during the summer
months. when the annual scale is formula ted.
and means practically continuous scale. The
committee was at first doubtful of its authority
TO enter into agreement of this kind re
garding It as the prerogative only Of the nation
al convention. InasmuCh, however, as the scale
rates offered by the American Tin Plat peo-
pie are those of the present year and generally
satisfactory to our members. and as precedent
has been estab lished in arranging continuous
scale with the Republic Iron and Steel Com
pany, the committee consented, so that there is
now an agreement which Will prevent the clos
Ing Of the mills or plant of the American Tin
Plate Company and which viii render strike
impossible.
Mr.. Snaffer seemed to he highly pleased with
the result Of the conferences He said that this
the first time in the history of negota tons
of working people with organized capital that
such an agreement had been entered.
Asked how it would affect any future aues-
lions TO wages or other matters that were
not foreseen now he said:
Pending negotiations the present scale Of
wages will go on. The matter of recognition Of
the non-union mills which are small proper
matters will be considered at our national con
ventton. which takes place in Wheeling, W. Va,
on April 10
Mr.. Shaffer would not say positively whether
the agreement would have TO be ratified by the
local unions whether the committee was
clothed with absolute power to act That he
said. would he for the committee 70 consider
later. He declined to state the rates of wages,
and said that he and the delegation with him
would leave early this morning. having accom-
plished their mission.