The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-12
PACKING HOUSE
MEN TO STRIKE
Nearly $4,000 Employees Will
Quit Work at Noon Today,
MANY MORE ARE AFFECTED
~-4
NEGOTIATIONS SAID TO BE IN
PROGRESS.
MANY MORE ARE AFFECTED

CHICAGO. July IA general strike
of the employees of all the big pack
ing plants throughout the coun-
try was ordered tonight by Michael J.
DonnelIy. president Of the Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters < Butcher Work
men of America. Unless the packing
companies offer some sort OF compro-
mise to the demands of the union. the
5000 workmen affected by DonnelIy's
order viii quit tomorrow at noon. The
strike involves the following companies
which have branches in Kansas City,
St J0seuh St. Louis, Omaha, ST Paul
Fort Worth and New York City Ar-
rnour K Co Swift & Co, Nelson Nor
ris & Co. Schwarzschild & Sulzberger.
CUdahy Packing company and the Ma
ti0nal Packing company In Chicago
clone these companies employ more
than $780, 900 men. all OF whom VIII quit
work al the same time as do the pack
ing employees outside of Chicago
Cause Of Trouble.
In an interview tonight, Mr.. Donnel-
y said
For nearly two months we have been
carrying on negotiations with the COM
all the packers in order to secure new
agreements for our members, the old
contracts between the unions and 1.-the
companies having expired on Nay d
Asince that time we have been working
without any agreement. and have tried
IN every way TO reach a satisfactory
agreement with the packing interests
but they have held out on every pro-
posal we have submitted, refusing TO
men became disguised, and tonights
order for A general strike was the re-
suit"
Superintendent J. J. Conway of Ar
moUr & Co. made this statement.
Neither side wants strike. Of
that there can be no doubt While
so far as I know, no arrangements
have been made for another meeting
between the repre- seutauves Of the
packers and the unions. still think a
further conference win be held toner
row and in ali prOhabil a satisfac-
tory settlement of the difficulty VIII be
reached
Vote Was Unanimous.
The decision to call a strike vas
reached at a meeting of the packing
trades council called by the executive
officers Of the different unions whose
members are employed in the packing
plants to decae whether the unions
would continue negotiations for the
skilled men only. as proposed by the
packers representatives or whether a
strike would be called to enforce the
union demands for a minimum wage
for unskiIled labor. The vote in favor
Of a general strike was unanimous
The butcher woTkmen at a recent
convention decided that a minimum
wage OF 20 cents an hour for common
labor should prevail in the packing
centers. and that the wages of the
skilled workers should be eQualized in
each branch of the trade. Wage scales
were arranged by the different unions
on the basis adopted by the convention
but number of conferences with the
packers failed of reaching any agree
ment- Later a proposal came from
the packers Offering 17la cents per hour
for iab0rers and helpers TO the killing.
cutting casing and beef loading de-
paTtments only. and no consideration
was TO be taken of the common labor
ers and helpers in the many other de-
partments. This proposal was also re-
5ected by the unions; and, although
several other conferences were held.
no agreement could be reached.
Whole Trade Involved.
Finally it was decided by the officers
OF the unions 20 take a referendum
upon the question OF calling a strike
10 enforce the demands Before issu-
ing the order tonight for the strike to-
morrow. Mr.. DOnneiIy said that meet
iugs similar TO the one held tonight
had been held in other cities where the
packing companies have branches. and
that at all those meetings the vote re-
suited in favor Of a general walkout
In addition TO the large firms already
named, the following concerns will be
affected II a strike is started. St Louis
Dressed Beef company, East St. Louis
Fowler Packing company and Ruddy
Brothers. Kansas City. an da number
Of smaller distributing houses through
out the east.
The men handling dressed beef FOR
the export trade have also been or
Sired out, as the union intends TO strike
every point controlled by the so
called beef trust.