The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-27
GAVE Up THE UNION IN A RUSH
SMITH AND WESSON MEN QUIT 4
1&' LABOR MOVEMENT.


The Company Locked the Factory Doors
When Union Had Been Formed~-Toi''
the Men They Could Come Back Non.
Union or Not nj All--A big Rush.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. May 26,-The Smith
4 Wesson Company, maker OF revolv era
has always been a non-union labor pla NJ
Recently the employees held an informal
meeting to organize n union The com
papy heard of it and objected, discharglng
seyera, OF the leaders. The men persisted
in the organization. Thereupon the COM
pany posted last night notice that the
factory would be closed at once indefinitely
but saving that any employee desirous OF
resuminc work could notify the officers.
Before 7 o clock this morning tho entire
street was filed with the men anxious TO
rive notice OF returning to work, They
fled into the Offices and we're told to sign
this statement
hereby affirm that I am member OF no
labor Union wha discover. ana agree tna,
viii not Join any such union WINE 10 ,na
employ Of the Smith 4 Wesson Company
Without first notifyin them in writing of my
intention of doing so.
At S O'Clock this afternoon 3s7 OF the ooo
employees had signed the agreement
The works will reopen Monday.
That the company was opposed 10 TRACES
unions WAS known widely therefore,
when the men took steps to organize they
were encouraged by labor leaders al! over
the country, The labor leaders, VINO have
bstlFpretty much their own way locally
tN-pjpht admit that they have received
eSrious check That the Smith Wesson
Company should take such firm and de-
cix5ed action came as stunning blow, not
only to the workmen, but to the labor eX-
hqrters.
\, 4hs,managers say that the works could
omen Tomorrow with complete force,
but that the delay was taken ct the request
of the old employees who have worked for
the company twenty or thirty years and
haye felt the crisis keenly. Beginning on
Mbne3ax new schedule of hours will be in
force, and instead of working sixty hours
week the men will work fifty-fve. thus
ewing them half holiday, The men petit
,bned few weeks ago for half holiday on
Saturdays.
Eat the time the company saw that it
xas not in a position to grant 1t. Shortly
a5terwarc the company got its affairs in
snch shape that it could grant the request
and posted "A notice to that effect. The
l0DOr leaOcTS anu IIleI dB'ec 'i"' '''' '''
raoyees have no serious grievance against
tie company
tMany of the would-be union men took
il iocular light the statement of the firm
that it would not submit to union OF It's
employees They believed that when
matters actually came to a head the com
Ihny would rscedc from its position.
sHopes had been expected that 1t would
II possible for a committee OF the union
II tfTat with the company, but this oppor-
t0atty,. was not granted. The first meet
ing TO organize union was held on May TO-
and vas attended by 300 employees. The
company net this action by discharging.
the next day, two longtime employees
teho" We're leaders in the movement.
The following day the company intended
70 circulate paper for the men 10 sign. but
this movement was abandoned. Eight
men were discharged on May is. and on
Nav 10 two more The union secured its
charter on Saturday. and was ready to go
shead with permanent organization when
the lockout took place.
Smith 4 Wcsson began to manufacture
:revolvers here in 1885, and this is the first
time that the company has had any trouble
with its men.