United labor bulletin., 1913-02-13
STEEL WORKERS. GET RAISE.
Hundreds Of steel Mill Workers Return
to Work and Organizers Go
Elsewhere.

A dispatch from Rankin and Braddock,
Pa, brings information that at a meet
ing of the unions of steel workers, at the
places mentioned the strikers received
an offer from the Steel corporation of an
advance in wages. and the strikers were
also assured that the company would not
against the union men If
all returned to work. The unions have
accepted the proposal and returned to
the mills.
The organizers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor will now proceed to
other districts in Pennsylvania in an ef-
fort to secure similar advances IN wages
and better conditions for the steel work
ers.
Pittsburg.-The strike at the two
plants of the American Steel and Wire
company, at Rankin and Braddock, Pa,
still continues, with slight changes. The
mill at Braddock is closed. The mill at
Rankin succeeded in getting over 200 of
their 1,20O employees to return Monday
morning, but Wednesday morning the
skilled men who went to work came out
again. Recently Secretary Morrison Wis
tied this city for the purpose of survey
ing the situation and perfecting arrange
ments to carry on the contest. The mill
companies involved, with their usual IA
cility, have their customary quota OF
thugs and deputies. and these COM
pany bandits deliberately fired into a
crowd of citizens, composed mostly of
women and children, resulting in the
death or murder of one, and the probable
fatal wounding of another, with a dozen
seriously injured. One man was muir
dered in cold blood, the victim being
George Kaminski Affdavits have been
made which declare that the man was
shot by a deputy. who fiendishly fol-
lowed his victim, shooting him several
times No effort was made by the auth
critics TO hold an inquest and place the
guilt until demand was made upon the
coroner to perform his duty.
A committee of the Iron City Trades
council called upon Coroner Jamison and
demanded that an inquest be held on the
death of the victim. George Kaminski.
Jamison informed the committee that he
would hold an inquest and do everything
he could to place the responsibility. The
committee of the central body intend to
see the relatives of those that are in
jured and enter criminal proceedings
against the officers of the company, who
hired the guards. and who were the
cause of the murder of George Kaminski
and the wounding of dozen others.
The Iron City Trades council, through
a committee. has also communicated
with Governor Tener and urged an in
vestigation OF the shooting. The presi-
dent of the State Federation of Labor Sc
cured the introduction of a concurrent
resolution in the legislature. now in ses-
sion at Harrisburg, Pa, Monday evening,
which had to lay over, under the rules,
until Wednesday. The resolution called
for the appointment of committee of
the members of the legislature to in
vestigate the shooting of the citizens at
Rankin, and the intimidation of the rep
of the American Federation
Of Labor in pursuing their legitimate
mission of organizing the steel workers
IN Pennsylvania.
Upon the heels of the strike comes the
from the Steel Trust to
he effect that a wage advance is forth
coming. This raise approximates is per
sent for the unskilled laborers and about
10 per cent for skilled mechanics In
,ther words. those now receiving 17h
,ents per hour are to receive 90 cents
Or % cents per day increase. The in
,rease for the skilled workmen is some
What indefinite, and the employees are as
fet unable to determine how the raise is
computed by the trust. for there seems
o be no general basis of computation. |
The raise is exceedingly small, in some |
7hcSH allNNuAAuE Only 70 - - cents per |
week
Organizers for the American Fedora
ion Of Labor, speaking the languages of |
he workmen. are in touch with the situ-
ltion and endeavoring to interest other |
in contiguous territory.
Aside from this field the A F. of L. |
las placed organizers and literature in |
he various steel centers. and the reports |
rom these places are to the effect that
much interest is being aroused among
he steel employees. In many places
Lhese workmen are subjected to the most
conditions in pursuing their en-
,loyment. and are compelled to live in
novels that beggars language to de-
scribe.
While the campaign has not as yet
airly started. 1t has proceeded far
enough to indicate that there is an ap-
Dreciable awakening of the unskilled la
Dorers. and that the Steel Trust is great
y concerned in the steady and persist
ent efforts OF the A. F. of l.. to organize
these men. If the trust. in fear of or
continues to. announce in
creases in wages. there may come n time
when 1t will arrive within striking dis
ance of wage scale that will provide
some of the more important necessities
,f life.
The fight is going to be continued Wig
,rously by the American Federation of
Labor.