The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-01
TO Be SOME MAY DAY STRIKES
PEACE IN BUILDING TRADES,
But NOT ELSEWHERE.

ExcayutOrs DispleaSed With Contractors
Answer TO Their Demands and EN.
poet 20 Quit WOTk-Bakers Ready
TO FIght for the Ten Hour Workday,
May day strikes are lacking this year
in the building trades, but other strikes
threatened for this week, may involve
about "a 900 or IS, 900 men in New York
The Rookmen ard EIoavators' Union,
which made demands on the COntraotors'
Protective Association on March 20 for a
new wage scale and recognition Of the
union, have not received what they consider
a satisfactory reply. They held a mass
meeting yesterday In Webster Hall, Eleventh
street near Third avenue, to consider the
question Of ordering a general strike.
The Rock Drillers' Union, the holster
runners and several other like trades had
passed resolu ions to stand by the eX-
cavators in case Of a strike and were repre-
scented at the meeting.
Herman Robinson, general organizer
Of he American Federation OF Labor, and
several other labor men made speeches
and the reply Of the Contractors' asso-
citation was read and received with shouts
Of dissatisfaction. According to the Of
one and left matters In the air.
A number Of the men wanted an i'm
mediate vote for q general strike, but
eventually IL was decided to leave the
question 70 a strike committee composed
Of the executive committees Of the unions
represented, with power TO call the strike
at It's discretion. The men were ordered
TO return to work pending orders. After
the meeting Tito Puoelll, president Of the
Rockmen and ENcava ors' Union made
statement in which he said:
Before we order the strike we will walt
10 see what the employers mean to do.
Full discretionary power has been given
TO the strike committee as TO the ordering
Of the strike The reply we received from
the Contractor Protective Association
does not directly state that the demands
are refused, but we can construe IL only
as a refusal Of the demands. The strike
committee will not act precipitately, but
as far as / can see a strike seems inevitable
Pucelli said that a strike would involve
at least 5000 roclSmen and exoavators
and 1900 rock drllers, holster runners
and others. He denied the statement
OF Secretary Clarke Of the Contractors'
association that the men were demand
ing less wages than they were receiving.
The downtown section Of the New York
Truck Owners Association will meet to-day
in the Broadway Central Hotel TO prepare
for a general strike Of the truckmen In the
warehouse district, which they expect will
take place this week. This strike will in
volve about 900 men.
Since the United States Supreme Court
declared the ten hour law IN the bakeahops
unconstitutional the union bakers in this
city have been organized 70 enforce the
ten hour workday by strikes. There are
5000 union bakers In New York, 1000 Of
whom have agreements beginning to-day
for a ten hour workday. These are afraid
that some Of their employers may now
ignore the agreement.
The garment workers on the East Side
are preparing for general strikes In July
for recognition Of the unions and a new
wage scale The largest Of these organiza-
tions Is the Cloakmakers Union, which has
a membership Of between 1900 and 1900
In New York