The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-07-26
MASoNS STILL ON STRIKE
At National Life Insurance Co. Build
ing Job in Montpelier.

|
This morning both sides in the
strike of the masons and brieklayers
at the National Life Insurance Co.'S
new building being erected on State
street held firm. The strikers threat
en- to leave the city for positions if
| the L. d. Willcutt and Sons company,
| in charge of the work, does not meet
the demand for the new wage of a
dollar an hour and a 44-hour week
The employers, as represented by Su-
perintendent Churchill, Macuissh, are Of
the opinion that the mems stand at
this time is unfair and their demand
excessive. They do not intend to raise
the present 30 cents an hour rate.
Eve will give the men a few days
to think it over" said the superintend-
ent this morning. and if they do not
see fit to take the old rate, which is
the best we can do, we will fill their
places with other help" The employ
ers are of the opinion that they can
find plenty of men to fill the jobs left
vacant by the striking bricklayers. It
is reported that the National Life
company favors the stand taken by
the employers.
On the other hand, the strikers are
just as confident that the Willcutt
company will be hard pressed to find
workers at the old rate. NJ. J. Crapo,
corresponding and financial secretary
of the Bricklayers,' Masons' and Plas.
terers' International union, said to-day
that fellow workmen of his in Mont
pelier, Barre and other parts OF the
state were getting dollar an ieur
and that the force employed in the
erection of the insurance building was
entitled to the same rate A number
of the men interviewed seem to be un-
shaken in their stand TO hold out for
the higher salary. They say that there
is work in Waterbury, Northfeld and
vergennes. Mr.. Crapo also said that
the Cummings Construction company
of Boston has sent for several of the |
men employed here and is willing to |
pay dollar an hour.
Superintendent Macuissh stated that |
the men had previously worked and |
had been contented at the old rate of |
90 cents an hour for an eight hour
day. He blames recent outside agita
tion for the recent wslkout. He was
waited on yesterday morning by a |
committee of the workmen, who pre-
sented their grievances. When the
was informed that the COM
pany could not pay the increase the
men were ordered to walk out
Secretary Crspo, for the strikers
stated that the men had never been
satisfied with the old rate but were
oowerless to act as they were not or
yanized A charter for a local post
If the international union was applied
'or and last week the new chapter
rot into working order. Arthur S.
4use of Barre was elected presidents
!. l. Miglierini OF Montpelier, treasur
n; NJ j. Crapo OF Montpelier, CORES
bonding and financial secretary, and
Tohn W. Crspo of Montpelier, deputy
Deputy Chastenay of Burlington in
tailed the local post of the union
The newly formed organization
'oted TO ask for a raise of 10 cents
in hour and appointed President Huse
'f Barre, r. \. 0'Brien and Peter
Ihastenay of Montpelier the commit.
ee whose interview with the employ
rs proved frnitless yesterday.
Conditions about the building where
he striking bricklayers were working
rere peaceful this morning and large
oree of men was going on with the
rork. which has suffered no apparent
lterruption.
There have been reports of sym !,
sfhy" strike on the part of the gran
e workers on the building and by some ,
{ the other 2l0 men employed by the !
villcutt people This idea is secuted
v the employers. The reports have :
cen traced down. and. as far as can 4
e learned, they do not emanate from !,
liable sources.