The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-03
ABERDEEN STRIKE SETTLEMENT.
Statement Of 1t from the Aberdeen
Scotland, Express.

A copy of the Aberdeen Scotland
Express OF May %, just received, tells
of the settlement OF the granite workers
| strike in Aberdeen on that date, the
terms OF settlement being I'D increase
per hour for the men and recognition oi
the polishers. That is one cent an hour
the wage being sixteen cents an hour
The strike lasted for a period of 81
! days.
| The Express says Of the settlement:
'.The following terms suggested by the
board of trade, as amended, have been
adopted by the parties:
.sla. That the granite cutters receive
an advance OF Lsd. per hour on standard
in operation before lst April, 1918, on re-
suming work.
lib. That the toolsmiths shall receive
an advance OF I'D. per hour
-. That as soon as possible after
work is resumed conference be held,
convened by the board of trade. for the
purpose Of framing bylaws for all Sec
tions of the trade, provided they are
represented by separate bodies.
ga. That no reprlsals shall take
place on either side.
'.3b. That in the event of any diff.
ferences arising between the time work
is resumed and the holding of the con
ference. and the parties are unable to
come to an agreement. no stoppage of
work shall take place. but the differ
ences shall be referred to the conference
for settlement"
Continuing. The Express SAYS:
The mems demands were originally
for 9d. per hour of minimum. which
Al L. A. 4
masters refused to consider the question
of minimum rate, and fought for a
standard wage, which has now been
fixed at sd.-a further abatement of
I'D on the part of the men.
THE strike has lasted - days. and
the yards by the time the men restart
will have been silent for exactly eight |
weeks. 1t was the eliminating point |
Of protracted period of unrest, both
the employers and the men.
On lst January the employees, the mem
bers of the granite cutters union, made |
their first demand which was for a rise
Of lHsd per hour ON the rate of wages.
On this being refused, an increase of Id.
was asked, with a reduction in the hours
Df labor to come into operation on lst
Aprn. The employers. just free of acute
differences in their own ranks, offered
IN increase of ed. per hour, TO take ef
'ect on lst July. This was not ae.
,epted by the men, and minimum rate
,f SID. per hour and a 81 hours week
we're put forward. Then came the deci-
ion to strike. arrived at by ballot of
he men. which found 7l2 in favor of a
trike and l69 against it, the majority
hus being 543.
''On 3lst March the employees laid
Iown their tools. and few DAYS later
ound 900 journeymen, $40 polishers, so !
,lacksmiths, and 40 other workers in
he city out on strike. The polishers and
he blacksmiths came out in sympathy
With the others, and later made de-
nands ON their behalf. which were de- |
lined Several centers in the county :
rere also affected. And 50 the dispute !
ragged along After il had lasted fully !
month. an endeaVor was made BY the {
oard of trade TO heal the breach Nego- I
iations were opened. and were adjourned {
abruptly. This week better /
esults were achieved. v
The Aberdeen paper estimates the to- q
Al loss from the strike as Sl4O.OOO. IL h
dds the following; Il
AN official Of the mems union said a
nat although the agreement was what a
light be called moral victory for the +
peratives. an important principle hav- v
lg been established. of course the men d
ere not altogether satisfied with what II
,ey had decided To accept. and even at
he meeting to-day it was quite zppar- A
Il that there was a strong feeling that N
,e strike should be prolonged until the o
ranite association saw its way % give a
le fun demands placed before IL 81 the il
ems union. M
lit would take the men an additional "
xteen months. he unmarked. TO make q
, what they had lost in wages. But. II
added. significantly. you nav rely We r
all have another 3.zs next spring" :