The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-18
REPLY TO THE
CONTRACTORS
E. M. ROBBINS cRITlcIsEs ~MlNu
TIES OF MEETING" AND
MAKES SOME SHARP
COMMENTS RELA-
TIVE THERE
TO.
Editor Pensacola Journal:

In an article headed Minutes or
ne Meeting" in Tae Pensacola Jour
nal OF this date, We see some things
that We believe. places the Carpenters
and the Painsers union in a false
light before the people. In the article
referred to above the Contractors
Association calls tle present state of
affairs strike" Il is not strike,
1t is lockout. The men are ready
TO go TO work 81 ony time. but refused
to work more than eight hours for a
fuli day. and so were locked out The
union gave the contractors a six
months notice that the hours per dag
world be reduced from nine to eight,
and at that time only two OF the con-
tractors expressed any objection TO the
change 10 an eight-hour day. They
kept perfectly still as il they were
satisfied with the change and with
the men until the given six months
had almost expired. Then they an
nounced to the people that the con-
tractors would work open-shop. would
work the men any number OF hours
they saw fit, would expect tne men
to lose every Saturday afternoon, but
would give all carpenters a raise per
hour. In that scale Of wages they
offered to raise ne low grade men
more than the high ghade men,
Now, they come along in tne MIMI
ties of the meeting" and say In times
past we have been forced to empty
union men who are not competent
mechanics in their line, at wages far
in excess of what they were worth. "
Does any one think that the contrac-
tors would volunteer to raise mans
wages when they were already forced
to give him more than he was worth?
If so, why would they do such tning?
They were not forced by the union
10 employ any men, nor to retain any
man in their employ for any lengtn
of time, whether he was competent
or incompetent The insinuation in
That article TO the effect that the
unions impose poor workmen on the
contractors for high pay or for any
pay. Is not true.
This" the contractors say, sis a
serious matter which should be RENE
died at once" Who do they expect 20
offer and enforce the remedy? Do they
expect a lot of locked-out carpenters
to do It, or do they expect to do il
themselves? If they intend doing il
themselves there never was better
time for them to try their hand than
right now. Do they expect the unions
60 do il and at the same time allow
the Contractors Association 20 impose
all kinds and classes of men on them
in an open shop and work under non
union boss, and then in addition Il
that make our trade rules for Us them
selves?
IL the union is to be made respon'
sible for all men on the job they
should have the power to discharge
any one who did and not give satisfac
ton. II such an evil as they claim
exists. all they have got to. go to get
the cooperation OF the unions in cor
recting it. is to show that such eVi
exists and help the unions to enforce
their trade rules.
But, judging from the actions anc
the offers of the Contractors Associa
ton | would say that all the men II
town were worth more tnan they have
been getting. But. judging from
some the work of some Of the ind
yidual members Of that association
| would say that none of them were
worth what they were getting. D
expect that each contractor IS get
ting the class of workmen he wants a
the lowest possible wages.
! AS TO the duty of steward on
lob I would advise the gentlemen q
procure a copy of the constitution ant
+, trade rules. and disabuse their mind
of any such false notions as che.
| have before it is everlastingiy to-
/ late. Some of them certainly nav
/ forgotten things they learned Will
carrying a hand box and sweatin
out union made overalls.
The Contractors Association fuI
Their suggests: THAT the unions pas
a rule that no new member be admit
ted unless having been employee
by a reputable contractor for no
less than three months and sal
workman rated and paid rot less tina
$500, and that all workmen not earn
ing $500 per day shall be kept out c
the unions bu, be allowed TO work a
helpers on all union jobs" That SUI
gestion is like a toad fish 1t has :,
many absurd points that it is hard
touch it. But it certainly does d.
serve some cnOiee language. If W
Just had Mr. Somebody's univers;
letter writer We would try to do tn
subject justice.
A reputable contractor, Suppose
fellow had TO ge: work and get 1t nov
and all the reputable contractors Ia
what men they could use, and the
who would pass on she reputation I
the reputable" contractor? TIL
unions, the fellow that was on prob
ton. or the disreputable of the co
ltractors9 Then what will you do wit
him if you find at the end Of thrt
months that he is not wortn $500 "a
/ day of any number Of hours? Son
| contractors would not have work Ion
enough 10 find cut whether their me
was worth anything. And what wou
"a man on trial. do with his fami
during his incarceration?
No wonder the contractors a
i afraid of getting skinned II they &C
NOT tell what i man is worth in le
i than three months time But We a.
willing 70 do most anything tnat
no, in violation OF union rules Al
ElI for one, would be willing TO ha'
the union adopt che suggestion OF q
Coutractors' Association provided Il
association would pass a ike rule 2
4 nIving TO themselves, which would
lin substance as follows: That &