The Detroit times., 1908-02-20
stove M0UNTERs
COME BACK WITH
THEIR STORY
DECLARE THEY MADE MANY CON-
cEssioNs, BUT CAN'T GIVE up
PROVISION FOR DIVISION OF
WORK AMONG THEM.

Stove Mounters union. local No. 1.
Thursday afternoon issued the follow
Ing statement:
Replying to the articles appearing In
.natprSa of the Michigan stove Co,
.Pentneular Stove CO.. Art Stove Co.,
and Detroit Stove Works, relative to
their differences with the Stove Mount
not account for their statement being
given ITO the newspapers except that
g sesey may s be PLAYING s for the sympathy
iy trying to obtain by issuing a bit OF
misinformation.
Now. the fact OF the controversy is
Manufacturers and the union were ne
gotfating on the terms OF an agree
ment, the principal bone of contention
developed to be the date when the
agreement was TO expire. The date OF
expiration was previously May 81 The
employers argued In favor OF Decem-
Der 81 as the proper time for the ex-
union representatives pointed out that
lat that time of the year work In the
stove line was the slackest and that the
shat sat tans OF
OF their own terms or keeping the
shop closed for months In the hope OF
starving the men into submission, the
employers took offense at such an un-
finally signed to expire at the end of
One month prior to the expiration OF
the agreement the employers submitted
list OF propositions embodying a re-
duction I'm day wages and piece prices
change from a nine-hour work-day to
the rule Of dividing the work in the
mounting department.: reducing the
Saturday haif-hoiidays during the
warm season from Ave months to four
mr. m IN oh a m of ha rotf 10
SO that the number would be almost
doubled; besides many more changes
affecting the mems Interests.
We leave IL to the public whether
the employers are or are not taking
the very advantage which the union
representatives feared when arguing
against end-of-the -year-expiring agree
ments.
During the recent conferences, and
because OF the general trade depres-
sion, and anxious to close an agree
may have some work. the union rep
resentatives made many concessions.
provided certain demands Of the firms
, were ,wwithSd n,a or modified, sSmong
OF the rule OF dividing up the work In
the mounting department.
Such q rule has been In force in all
OF the stove shops In this city for a
great number OF years. 1t Is rule
that does not cost the firms one dollar
more to keep In force than any other
metnOd OF employing the mountern the
rule that the stove concerns OF this
city have been prospecting under for as
many years as II has been In force.
1t In rule that we feel the need OF
more now than at any other time. Can
Il?
Many employers. of union and non
union labor, including the city itself,
have only recently adopted the policy
of sharing what work they have among
the employees, SO that each may have n
chance OF earning q dollar or two. the
need of which Just at the present time
H. 80 sorely felt by the great majority
And II this policy were inaugurated
generally there would be considerably
less distress during the period OF dull
times.
The stove manufacturers, to coerce
the Mounters' union into signing an
agreement containing obnoxious pro-
visions. have reduced the pattern Mt
ters' wages. who are members OF our
further evidence OF their Ngood faith"
30 sacredly promised few short
months ago.
The statement that our international
president has conceded the 'unques-
toned privilege 10 stove manufac-
When the stove manufacturers OF
Detroit are ready to withdraw their
demand-rthe stove moupters are not
making any demands--of abolishing
the rule of dividing the work, there Is
every probability OF other differences
being adjusted: and at any rate, the
men will be, glad to return TO work
that have prevailed In the stove shops
for At least rs years