Denver labor bulletin., 1916-08-26
N. Y. CARPENTERS
WIN LONG STRIKE
Settlement Means Increase of
so Cents Per Day
Suit Against International Officers
Will Result Because Entire Men,
bership Was Suspended
Especial Correspondence.)


NEW YORK, Aug. 2l.-The strike of
New York city Carpenters which began
on May / came to an end last Monday
when the executive board of the New
York District Council reached compro-
mise with the Employers Association.
The rate of wages agreed upon was $3.50
day.
When the strike was called last MAY
the men were getting flat S5 day.
They demanded an increase of sixty
cents or $3.50 day.
When the strike was called only 5000
of the 1000 union carpenters quit work
as the employers of $4,000 Immediately
signed contracts with the union calling
for the new scale. The remainder of the
men have been on strike up until last
Monday.
With the strike practically won the
situation was badly complicated by In
ternational President William L. Hutch
eson, who came to New York city on
May and proceeded to enter into
contract with the Employers Association
without consulting the wishes of the To-
cal union.
This contract provided that the men
return to work at once at the old rate
of pay, for an increase of 25 cents a day
on July first and for another increase
on September first.
So-Called Settlement Rejected.
By huge majority the New York
local rejected the settlement" where
upon Hutcheson suspended the entire
membership of 1900 carpenters.
The case was carried to the New York
supreme court and Justice Mullan, sit
ting in the Bronx, decided that Hutche-
son had exceeded his authority and re-
instated the local men
Hutcheson and other officers of the
international Union then opened strike
breaking agencies in this city and in
other ways have continued to fight the
union carpenters of New York.
In spite of all this, the local union
carried its strike to a successful con-
clusion and are now preparing to go
after Mr. Hutcheson hot and heavy.
Evidence has been collected in the
form of affidavits showing that Hutch
eson and number of others have vio-
lated the ruling of the court. This data
has been placed in the hands of Morris
Hilquit, counsel for the New York Car.
| penters, and he is preparing to bring ac-
tion against the International officers
for their recent acts.
Payment of Death Claims Refused.
international Secretary Frank Duffy
has returned the credentials of the New
York state delegates to the Information
al convention which will be held at Fort
Worth, Texas, on September IS, and In
ternational Treasurer Thomas Neale has
refused to pay death claims of widows
and other relatives of New York car
penters who have died since Hutcheson
took it upon himself to suspend the To-
cal men. All of this. according to Off
GERS of the local union, will eliminate
in suits for damages.
The New York Carpenters will send
about 100 delegates to the convention at
Fort Worth next month. That they will
be defined admittance is almost a GER
tainty. But not for long. As soon as
the convention gets under way friends
of the local men will bring the matter
up on the floor and move to seat the
New York unionists. BY actual count,
seventy two letters have been received at
the headquarters of the New York union
from locals in other cities promising aid
when the convention meets.
Without 4 Parallel.
Presiednt Hutcheson by his meddling
and incompetence caused the strike to be
prolonged long after it would ordinarily
have been ended. His action caused the
local Carpenters Union to expend approx
imately 100000 where without his in
terference the strike would probably not
have cost more than S25, 900
The case is without n parallel, as far
as we know, in the history of the trade
union movement.