The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-23
MACHINISTS GET INCREASE
New Wage Scale Is to Go Into Eff
feet April l.
Members of Washington Lodge Win
out In Their Fight Against
Employers.

Every member Of Washington Lodge Of
Machinists will, on April / next receive
an Increase Of wages averaging about Is
per cent 10 the man. At a conference
last night in the headquarters OF the
International Association of Machinists,
the four big employers of the city signed
the agreement submitted by Washington
Lodge in the shape of q demand.
This demand called for a minimum
wage of 1875 a day and an increase OF
10 per cent for all men receiving S325
All apprentices out OF their time-that is,
having completed their apprenticeship
are To receive a minimum Of $3.50 on a
six months probationary period to deter
mine their CapabiIity. At the end of this
six months they are to receive the min
imum of $325 for journeymen. if their
work is up 10 the standard in quantity
and quality. The probationary period
IS not binding, except as to the minimum
and can not be construed as holding a
graduated apprentice with one firm il he
can obtain higher wage with another
firm. as upon his graduation he is con
s.dered q full-fedged journeyman.
Both sides fought bitterly in last nights
conference. and on several occasions crises
developed thar presaged "a deadlock, but
the employers gradually receded, the men
holding out consistently for their original
demand.
The employing firms contended that they
were only charging $3.50 for the services
of the men, and for this reason could not
stand to pay 325 or more. On the other
hand, the men held that the demand made
by them was fully Justified After a
lengthy debate the employers offered "A fat
increase Of i cents TO each man. with q
minimum OF $50 This was later in
creased 10 p cents. and still later 10 IS
cents. II hung here for a long time. and
after a conference in their own room the
employers offered TO arbitrate. The men
considered that a consent TO arbitratc
would be a recession. Finally. when the
opinion among those present became gen
eral that there would be a deadlock, the
employers came around and signed. This
action il was stated after the meeting,
was all that prevented a disastrous strike
as the men were determined to walk out
on the 1st OF the month unless their de-
mands We're met.
The firms Of the Forsberg Company the
J. f. Hurley Company, Allen & Mitchell,
and the Murray Engineering Company
were represented by G. r. FOrsbeTg. J. Z.
Hurley Mr. Allen, and W T. Murray.
The machinists We're represented by the
wage committee of Washington Lodge as
follows. p j. Conlon. J. Quis injury,
Fred Hewitt II. L. Holden, John Rice,
Fred 10y, and James Martin.
The demand for a minimum wage Of
S3.25 a day was first made by Washington
Lodge during the session of the executive
committee of the International Associa-
ton several weeks ago. Since that time
the local officers have been trying TO set
tie the matter amicably. The employers
agreed 10 a conference, but owing 20 the
difficulty of getting together this was not
/ held until last night.
The movement was in accordance with
I the general movement TO be inaugurated
for better pay and shorter hours by the
machinists in a number of the big cities
particularly in the Middle West.