The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-01
CARPENTERS
MAY GO OUT
ON STRIKE

There Is an oninous silence that may
or may not portend a storm in the labor
world. so far as this city is concerned,
and the next 36 hours will develop what
is 10 transpire.
Today is the day upon which the old
agreements Of the carpenters unions with
the master builders and the carpenters
expire and there is no indication that there
will be any renewal OF them or the MAX
ing OF new ones.
Both parties seem 10 be playing
waiting game neither being willing 10
come out and declare its purpose as yet.
Some time ago the unions submitted
set OF demands for increase In wages for
the next year. but though there have been
several conferences berween the men and
a committee from the masters body there
has as Yet been no settled reply a. 10
what will be done and the final outcome
ta in doubt
~ he carpenters are all az work as usual
today. but under no agreement. and
whether there will be a renewal will de-
pend largely upon the meeting OF ale
master carpenters tomorrow afternoon.
From the attitude OF the carpenters one
would surmise that there VIII be no
action. but from the history of trade
movements there may be another general
strike declared at any time In forcing
the employers 10 grant the demands.
Union men are working at present for
81 so per day and want 20 cents more.
while the masters feel that they cannot
afford 10 pay more. They have not said
so definitely but that has been the sense
Of the statement OF the committee that
has conferred with the committee from
the unions on the matter.
Should there be generai strike Of the
carpenters In the city there will be more
than 1900 men out OF employment and
together with the number from the Paint
ers union and other crafts that may be
contemplating strike at the present
time and will do so soon a large part OF
the working population Will be forced to
suspend work.
The problem will he all the graver
owing to the fact that there are better
chances for wages in otner cities and
many OF those who usually can be found
to take the place OF the strikers have
already left the city 10 take work ar
better wages than are 10 be obtained
here For this reason should there be
strike the tle-up will ne far more serious
than has been the case at any other
time.
There is still to be heard from the
Plumbers union, Whlcn up 10 thlS tHS
has not committed itself one way or the
other From what can be learned. how
aHa=-tAeFe- 4A-+itte--
OF that craft will strike also All the
labor men claim that this state pays less
I'm wages than almost any other In the
Union while there Is really no reason
for such n showing The increases In
wages demanded are all being based upon
the fact that most Of the crafts in the
trades sections cannot be en-
ployed but about four months of the
year and that the average OF this VIII
be less than s. so per day for the year.
The master carpenters are TO have
meeting tomorrow afternoon. according
to the secretary. Mr.. James Clary, at
which time the report OF the committees
on the conference will report and some
action be taken. Whether the men are 10
strike or not will not be definitely known
until the carpenters council has deter
mined upon such a step. The fact that
he hrst day of May has come and gone,
however. with no agreement signed might
Do taken with a serious meaning
Mr.. Pennimau, when seen this morn
ng. stated that no action had been taken
relative to any action Of the carpenters
Tor looking TO an agreement. What the
u ture bore he could not state.