The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-01-28
Between the Window Glass
Workers and the
Manufacturers.
NO PRICE CUTTING
Is to Be One of the Require
ments if Agreement is
Brought About.
Editors Telegram.-.

~
Since the operation OF Industrial
plants in this city is OF more or less
public interest and also Of interest
to our employers and stockholders
that are not reached in any other,
manner. we beg space for our Views
of the present strike situation among
the glassworkers.
| In order to meet machine made
glass in the market and secure for
ourselves and our employees Just
share of the window glass business.
a sliding scale Of wages was arranged
with the workers officials to take eff
feet December Z, 1907. and expiring
August 81, 1908. Prior to the ex-
ipiration of this scale another one was
made to begin September 1, 1908,
and extending to August 81, 1909.
The officials who signed and put the
scales for the workmen among the
manufacturers for their signatures
last August received signed copies
from all manufacturers who were OPP
Grating under Its provisions. With
out warning. the scales were cancel
led and the workmen ordered to.
cease work December IS, 1908. The
officials have since stated that they
had nothing to do with such action
any farther than carrying out the
workmens demands. Various rea-
sons have been given by both officials
and workmen for this action. chief
of which seems to be the statement
that manufacturers were cutting
prices among themselves. Since the
scale was given manufacturers to
meet competition of machine made
glass. such action on their part was
unjust toward tho workmen whose
wages would thereby be affected. IL
is also claimed by the workmcn that
deceptive means OF obtaining busi-
ness was employed by some certain
manufacturers TO obtain business and
thus the people who operate ma
chimes were provoked into price cut
ting in order to obtain their share or
business. Minor affairs also entered
into the workmen's decision to cancel
the scale, which 1t is not necessary
here to discuss.
Since the spirit OF this working
arrangement with skilled glass work
ers was more OF partnership affair
than anything else to which We can
liken 1t, any or all manufacturers
who violated said spirit did an I'M
fair thing to the employees.
But the events of recent years
make it positively unsafe for any
manufacturer of window glass by the
hand method to pay his skilled iabor
on q fiat wage basis. Very serious
losses have occurred already and
manufacturers are a unit as 10 the
grave dangers under .such q. system
I'VE have nowibesn Idle for about six
weeks and mo means has been sug-
gestedsto compromise the differences.
Accordingly we'sHsgast the following
as definite proteStidh to the work
men and gomethi1g that would meet
with our ;indiyidfaf approval. 1t
should be made a section or the wage
scale which was Terminated Decem-
Eber 1$ 1908 and that.scale renewed.
/ SectibnzsIil ordey, hns 'nrotoct tha
workmeh from unnecessary price cut
ting among the natanturers oper-
ating under TIN scale, IS also nut
ualiy agreeds
First-No manu- factprer shall offer
or sell his glass below so-35 single.
so-so double[:xith tho present exist
ing freight allowances and per cent
cash discount 10 days, unless lower
prices or better terms arc made BY
mannfacturers operating machines
for blowing.
Secondary manufacturer selling
Tor Offering for sale his glass at lover
prices than the above or making
special freight allowances or cash
discounts or selling his glass by the
Ise, 4: Except b. s. grinders3 or>any
other than the regular methods now
in common use. shall pay to tho
workmen's labor organization author
izing this scale, for the entire settle
ment Of iour weeks the violation oc-
ours. 10 per cent. of the combined
/ wages OF all blowers, gatherers. fat
teners and cutters who have been in
his employment during The settle
ment, within ten days of the proof
establishment, as liquidated damages.
i Third-An affidavit from any COM
fpetittor or salesman shall be sna,r-