Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-09
WHAT THE CARPENTERS ASK
Statement from the Unions TO the
Business Mems Association.
BAsIs OF CONTROVERSY NOW ON
Refusal OF Men to work Ten HOura
Daily and Request for Half
Day OFF Saturday WITH
out Pay.

The Tri-City District council Of the
United Brotherhood OF Carpenters and
Joiners Of America has given out some Of
its correspondence With the executive
council OF the Omaha Business Mems as
ISOLATION, relative to the present labor
troubles in Omaha. It Is the desire Of the
local unions that the public have the facts
in the case from it's side, that no misun~
derstanding may exist. The following let
tiers relate to the difficulties with John
Harte and at the Adams T. Kelly planning
mill: ...s-
OMAHA. July 3, Isoa.-To the Executive
Committee OF the BuslRess Mems Assoois-
ton: Genelemen-Much has been said about
the carpenters, and a great deal OF news
paper noteriety given relative TO the con-
troversy between John H Harte' a general
contractor, ana the brotherhood of. Car
penters and Joiners Of America. in the
city OF Omaha and vicinity. % oraer, 70
that everyone may have a. clear under
standing OF the CONTROVERSY between the
StTnatsS sr,e s9S a Rls ,S enR RfSIiy % state sm tho IN,
same to you, as follows;
Mr.. Harte had several Jobs and buildings
in course Of construction during the last
few months, among them a club house In
Dundee, at the end OF the Farnam street
car line. He selected q number OF car
penters from his downtown Jobs and or
Z w "pAN bA WV NV w. ~
at the same time instructed to work
ten hours a day at straight time, instead OF
time and a half for overtime, which the
rules OF the carpenters calls for. We
also found upon Investigation that a nuns
Der of men had been paid less than the
scale Of wages. Our scale Is 46 cents per
hour, minimum, and eight hours constitute
a days work, and Saturday afternoon off
without pay. Mr.. Harte was waited on by
representatives OF both the carpenters and
Building Trades department. When Mr..
Harte refused to give them a hearing the
men determined to no longer work for
Harte under those abusive terms, and all
quit, when they were Informed of his treat
ment of the men. Refusing to work under
his sole diotation and terms meant dis
charge. He also refused to q his car
penters on Saturday noon, as he did the
brtoklayers. All other contractors pay
their men Saturday noon, so the men can
pay their legitimate debts. We asked moth
ing unfair from Mr.. Harte; we, viii give
him the same treatment as we 10 all bther
contractors and employers OF labor, when
eve he VIII conform to our rules relative
in no way will i1Jnre Mr.. Harte's or any
other mans business. -1r 'r-t ",r'tr.'
Trusting that through this expls nation
a proper and beneficial agreement may be
arrived at 1 remain, respectfully yours,
M. w. WARD, Secretary.
p. S.-We are willing at ali times to
meet with a committee from your associa-
ton to substantiate these statements. %
OMAHA, July 3.-The Executive Commit
tee: The enclosed is q copy OF the petition
presented to the planning mill ownert of
Omaha by their own employees asking for
q continuous Saturday AZ, el noon. OIL Ni n
out pay, and were refused on June 2.
The men quit at noon.
On Monday morning. when thHy re urHed
TO go to work, the men were told that II
they desired to work the .sare as they
always had done-ten hours every d,y-
thoy could return, Otherwise not. IN q II
work: One mill, however, has since asl eed
N. II. WARD, Secre airy.
OMAHA, June l9.-To, Adams & Kejiy
Manufacturing Cdm~pany-Sirs; We, ths
undersigned employees of Adams, e. KeltS's
establishment, dS hereby appeal to yol
for less working hours per week. At pr es
emit we work sixty hours per week. cpm,
pared with other trades who work cnIN
eight hours per day, or fortY.fouT hours e
week qultting on Saturday at l. o ! G.
urday afternoon off and aqnit at ~ oclnol
noon Saturdays, commencing on the eStl
day of June, 1909. -. :