The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-10-02
A CONFERENCE WAS HELD
Demands Of Men are for 8 Hour Day.
Bi-monthlY Payment, etc State
ment By The Bosses.

Hardwiek, Oct. mo agreement was
reached between the bosses and their men
at a conference held this forenoon at ID
o'clock, and the way the situation looks
now there is no sign Of settlement. The
cutters who left their work yesterday az
ternoon TO attend the union meeting were
back at work this morning. 1t Is prob
able that another conference will be held
soon.
II is understood the demands Of the
Jumpers and Drillers' Union who went
out yesterday are in brief as follows. An
eight-hour day, such an increase in pay
per hour as shall make the day figure as
now, pay and one-fourth for overtime and
a bi-weekly pay day.
A committee OF granite manufacturers
has made the following statement Of their
side Of the case
Frst-The proposed union makes its
demands for immediate acceptance with
out any notice whatever, while under or
dinary conditions at least three months
are allowed the manufacturers to adjust
the business to meet the demands. No
intimation had been given Of any such de-
mand for eight hours or advance pay, while
contracts Of varying amounts have been
taken by the manufacturers upon the ex-
pectation that conditions would remain as
they now are
Secondly-The union demands eight
hours for the working day and time and
one-quarter for over time. The manufac-
tureTs believe that il is impossible to run
granite plants with the Jumpers working
only the same time as the cutters, as they
need at least one extra hour for boxing
and bankering the stone and to keep lhe
sheds cleaned ont in proner shape. II Il
impossible to run derrioks and cranes with
the amount Of help that would be required
20 meet these conditions II they are TO bs
run only the same time that the cutter:
are running.
Thirdly The advance In pay demanded
By the union Is out Of all reason The
manufacturers are convinced that the pay
they are now receiving compares favorably
withtany other granite center, yet the adj
vance demanded taken in connection Will
the eight hours means an inerea Sc Of any
where from 25 70 30 or 60 per cent.
AZ the same time the manufacturers be-
lieve they are showing disposition to
meet them fairly in tt slr proposition "a
recognize the union and to give them an
advance Of pay amounting to 10 per cent
Beyond this they feel that business condi.
tions will prohibit their going. Theman-
ufacturers are unanimous In the position
they are taking and wish 1t understood
that the advance proposed is isprecisely that
now In force in Barre on a union bin that
holds good until 1908 and the manufac
turers in Hardwiek feel very positive that
business conditions in Hardwiek do mo-
warrant their paying higher prices fol
common help than is paid by their neares
and strongest competitors
This statement is made as they wish /,
have their position properly understood b.
the community and with the feeling tha
the position they are taking Is one that /,
imperatively demanded by conditions owe
which they have no control.
Committee Of Granite Manufacturers
All the stone cutters in Hardwicl
stopped work yesterday afternoon to at
tend meeting where the situation wal
discussed. Late yesterday Afternoon th,
manufacturers received a request from th,
Jumpers and Drillers' union asking fo
the conference this morning,