The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-02

ISOLATION to try to force men in clos
ed sheds to break clause so plainly
stated. We again insist Mortified
branch did not break agreement, but
| instead offered and insisted on ad-
| justment as therein provided, and
only when firm insisted and contin-
ued in violation of last four words,
first paragraph, article six of miscel-
fused to break article eight, and
when firm ignored branch request to
adjust dispute, did Cross Brothers
men refuse to remain on job. Agree
ments in the several places are indiv-
idually intact and have no binding eff
feet each on the other; hence, as no
dispute exists outside Mortified, which
has full agreement by itself, indie
pendent of other places, your asso-
citation is in acute rebellion against
moral and honorable settlements, by
locking out where there is no trouble,
and thereby giving exhibition of bad
faith in maintaining agreements.
Your request to answer your ques-
tons plainly is humbug. We could
not fail to do so, even by trying. We
again repeat, we stand by article six
of miscellaneous in everything it says
and means. We also stand by article
eight of regulations, which is bone of
contention; it must be fully recognize
, ed, then follows adjustment by ar
ticle six of miscellaneous. We sup
port Northfield branch in maintain
ing agreement, not to break it, We
value agreements too highly to ap-
prove of breaches by either party
thereto. Again, we request withdraw
ticle eight, and settlement by article
six, and therefore continuance of sane
and logical adjustment of such dis
putes.
James Duncan.
The following are the sections re-
ferred to in this correspondence:
Art. s. No surface cutting ma
chine to be worked in cutting shed
during working hours, unless proper
ly equipped with suction fan or other
device to remove dust. Workmen to
be amply protected at all times from
dust from said machine, whether in
the shed or outside.
Art. 6. 1t is mutually agreed that
any grievance or contention that may
arise during the existence of this
agreement and bill of prices as to it's
performance in good faith by either
party, shall be referred to a commit
tee consisting of six members, three
to be selected from the local Associa-
ton of Manufacturers and three from
the local branch of the Granite Cut
ters' International Association, which
committee shall act as an adjustment
committee, and said committee fail
ing to agree by two-thirds vote,
shall refer the matter in dispute to
an arbitration board of three, one to
be selected by the local branch of
manufacturers and one by the local
branch of the Granite Cutters In
ternational Association from their re-
spective bodies, these two shall agree
upon and select a third party to act
; with them, and the board thus con-
stituted shall hear the parties and
make an award within fifteen days
by majority vote; such award shall
be final. Pending such arbitration
in reference to the foregoing bill of
prices, it is mutually agreed that
there shall be no strike, lockout or
suspension of work.
1t is also further agreed that any
grievance that may arise during the
existence of this agreement, that is
not covered by the bill of prices and
agreement, shall also be referred to
the adjustment committee, and any
agreement they may come to in the
matter under consideration shall be
accepted by both parties. Pending
the consideration of such questions
by the committee, it is mutually
agreed that there shall be no strike
lockout, or suspension of work.