The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-22
THREATEN STRIKE
AT E. W. BLISS PLANT
Machinists Say They Will Tie
Up Plant Unless They Get
Eight Hour Day.
OFFICERS DENY TROUBLE

The big Brooklyn plant OF f. w.
Bliss 4 Co.. which has been turning
out projectiles night and Gay. Ia threat
n by a strike Of m%achinists. For
NAL demands for an eight hour day
and a minimum wage will be made upon
the company and II the o~ficials do not
accede to them the machinists say they
will quit work.. This announcement was
made yesterday at the headquarters Of
the international Association OF Ma
chinists, 11s Nassau street.
r. j. Deering. business agent Of Dis
trict IL OF the association. said that
ever since the war started the union
has been organizing the machinists at
the Bliss plant and now a large ma
jority Of the men are union members.
The Bliss company" Mr.. Deering
said. is one OF the few concerns IN
this vicinity that has not granted Its
employees an eight hour day. Our main
object Ia to get an eight our day, and
this. we believe. IL our golden oppor-
tunity. as the company 10 working night
and day turning out war orders.
The Bliss company Is employing
about 1000 men. 1t Ia subletting con-
tracts TO smaller shops. many Of which
have an eight hour day. and in case OF
a strike these plants would moi be dis
turbed unless they insisted on contin.
ulng to do work for the Bliss people.
The demands will be made the latter
part OF tho week or the nrst part OF
next week. and II the company doesn't
give In a strike will be declared. II
there is a strike II will be In charge
OF j. j. keppler. vice-presldent of the
International Association OF Mach!nists.
Mr.. Deering said hat some OF the
men In the Bliss plant are being paid
as low AS 25 cents IN hour. while the
minimum union scale calls for ~ cents
an hour.
Mr.. Keppler wal expected to arrive
In this city from Bridgeport yesterday
afternoon and IL was thought that he
might have gone TO Washington to A.
tend a conference OF American Fedora
ton OF Labor heads. The local leaders
are anxious to consult with Mr.. Keep.
pier befor putting the finishing touches
TO their plans for the Bliss strike in
case the company doesn't accede to the
demands after a conference.
The Bliss plant Is turning out not
only shrapnel shell castings and auto
mobile parts for foreign Governments
but 10 making torpedoes for the United
States Government. The United State.
Circus; Court recently handed down 4
decision which prohibits he Bliss com
pany from selling to foreign Govern
men,s or their agents the Bliss-Leavit'
torpedo. which was frst manufacture,
by the compan under contract witt
the Government for the use OF III,
United States navy.
When asked II n strike in the Bliss
works would not tie up the company.
contracts on Government work officer:
OF the union said the mpa observed
the Federal eight hour day on Govern
ment work and they could not see win,
1t would not be able to grant the am,
terms to its men On other contracts.
In the offices OF the +. W. Bliss com
pany. Plymouth and Adams streets
Brooklyn n, the secretary of the compa ny
II. G. Seaman. emphatically denied tina
a strike was threatened. He said tina
the workmen were contented and ever
one OF them AT work. lie also denie'
that a conference was held during tn
afternoon or that II was even conten
plated holding one. lie said that M
could ascribe no reason for the rumof
IT is expected that II there Ia
strike at the Bliss plant 1t will be n,
f%orerunner OF a series Of strikes INTENDED
to compel an eight hour day in othe
plants in Greater New York working u
war contracts.