Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-04-27

General Organizer James H. Sheehe
OF the United Association of Journey
men Plumbers, Gas Filters, Steam Fit
ters and Steam Filters Helpers, who
has been here for a day or two in
connection with the strike of the local
Plumbers union, No. 267, which is now
an It's fourth week. left on Wednesday
afternoon to attend to other business
engagements. General Organizer Shee-
he stated that he had come here this
time because he had expected there
was to be meeting of the Master
Plumbers association on Tuesday
evening, and he was here to be on
hand in case he was summoned to adj
dress their meeting. which was a re-
quest he had made, but they had held
no meeting, neither had he heard from
the master plumbers on Wednesday in
acknowledgment of his last request for
an opportunity to address them.
Summing up the local situation he
said that he had made every effort to
learn both sides of the Norwich situa-
ton, having endeavored to learn the
master plumbers side of the contro
versy by meeting directly with them,
and from all the information in his
possession he was compelled to con-
eIude that the local union was in the
right and that they would be guaran-
teed the support of the united associa-
ton. He expressed considerable sur
prise that he had not been able to get
a conference. as he said it was the
first time in his experience that such
a requestt had been refused for the
purpose of discussing an agreement.
The general organizer said that his
connection with the local situation be-
gan when he came here after the strike
was instituted to learn the merits Of
the controversy. After hearing from
the local union their reasons for claim
ing that the agreement had expired,
he had written a letter, at the sugge5-
ton of five of the master plumbers
whom he had met in an informal way,
asking that he might address their as
ISOLATION or that committees from the
two bodies might meet in conference.
The claim of the master plumbers is
that the agreement does not expire I'M
til Dec. 81, 1911. In the talks he had
with some of the master plumbers he
said he had told them that he stood
ready to order the union men back to
work if he were convinced they were
in the wrong. and if they refused to
go back he stood ready to replace them
with competent men through his or
ganization, as the United Association
would stand for no broken agreements
on the part of the unions.
To his first letter the master plumb
ers replied that their association "vot-
ed that Organizer Sheehe be referred
for Information to the letters and rec
ords Of Local No. 267,' and that the
Master Plumbers association is unan-
irnous in declining to entertain any
discussion with you or with a COM
mittee of said local which would ex
cuse their present strike on the ground
of any misunderstanding of the agree
ment of 1907
In RESPONSE to that letter he had
answered as follows, again requesting
a chance of addressing the Master
Plumbers association. but had received
no acknowledgment of this letter:
Norwich, Conn.,, April ~, 1911.
Mr.. John Troland. Secretary of Mas
ter Plumbers Asso., Norwich. Ct:
s just received and contents carefully
noted. In reply permit me to say that
owing to my absence from the city on
business over which / had no con-
troll was the cause of my not making
an earlier reply. I can assure you I
have read your letter with deep in
terest, and can only regret that your
honorable body could not see its way
clear to grant my request. so that
could have been informed on the mer-
its of the question at issue, and, if
possible, render advice and assist
ance in removing the cause of the
differences which now exist between
the journeymen.
Since your association refers me to
the records of local Union 267 and
letters that have passed through your
respective organizations for my in
forma ton, ] might be pardoned, If. in
my conclusions ] fail to come to the
same point of view that the members
of the Master Plumbers association
have arrived at and should I err in
my judgment it would be more d.
rectly due to the fact that | was
forced to receive my information from
71x- Ci6 On lf he rfi aa ir,fA tod
Rather than from any desire on my
part to make a biased defence for
those whom | may be directly inter-
ested in. On examination of the rec
ords of Local 267, / find that q COM
rnfttee representing the masters and
journeymen entered into an agree
ment to abide by certain articles COW
ering the wages. hours of employment
and other conditions, the said agree
ment to extend for a period of three
years, dated on January 8, 1908 ]
further find that though the members
of Local 267 did not look with favor
upon the agreement as reported to
them by their committee, they did
however, agree to abide by the pro-
visions therein set forth. On further
investigation, I find that on August 18
1909, the local union of journeymen
believing that certain persons who
We're members of the. Master Plumb
ers' association, were not complying
with the provisions of the said agree
ment, instructed the secretary to cor
respond with the Master Plumbers
associa ton, asking that they take some
action in adjusting the same. On the
files of the local, I find a letter where
in 1T states your association tabled the
Communication. l further find that
local Union 267 sent communication
to each of the individuals complained
| of in the communication sent to youl
| association, to which only one employ
! err saw fit to answer and in his reply
set forth that he was at loss to know
| Of any agreement that then existed
| believing that the old agreement hao
| expired
feel that the members of the Mas
| ter Plumbers assccia ton will agree
! with me when | say that surely or
receipt of the above communication
also the reply from your association
! that their communication had beey
| tabled, some misapprehension could
not help but exist. as to whether they
Were still subject TO the agreement
| of 1908. This feeling. which may bt
/ said to have been born on the receipt
! of these communications. came TO its
| fullest development when on April
3, 1910. the local union requested thai
/ your association appoint a committee
| OF six to meet a like committee rep
resenting the journeymen, with the
I object in view of discussing the pro-
| visions of the agreement, as alleged
| to exist m communication received
at an earlier date from you. To this
| letter | find n reply over your sig
| nature. that your association has ia
! bled this communication also. I ther
+ find on oral evidence that a natiena
/ officer visited this city about that tim.
I and investigated the matter pertaining
+ a fill in.