Irvine Express. — 1884-01-25 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THREATENED 'PARTIAL STRIKE OF GLASGOW JOINERS.-A meeting of the operative joiners of Glasgow to consider the present aspect of the wages question was held on Tuesday night in the Albion Halls, College Street. The principal object of the meeting, according to the circular calling it, was to consider the action of a number of employers in endeavouring in an underhand way to reduce the rate jof the wages. The standard rate of pay in the trade J at present is 70 per hour, and the allegation of the j workmen is that several of the employers had reduced the rate to 7d. There was a large attendance, and Mr Robert Campbell, secretary of the Central Branch of the Associated Carpenters and Joiners, was called upon to preside. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman said there had been an attempt made every winter for the last 25 years to reduce the wages of the joiners in Glasgow. Mr George Bowers moved as follows :—" That this meeting declares that the present attempt of a few of the employers to reduce the standard rate of wages for competent workmen is unwarranted, and injuriotus to the welfare of the trade, and also contrary to the recently expressed opinion of the great majority of the most respectable and influential employers ; and this meeting also resolves to withdraw the labour from all shops where such attempt has been made until notice has been given by each employer that he is prepared to pay not less than 741c1 per hour to all competent workmen whom he may employ." (Applause.) Mr Colin Morgan seconded the motion. Mr Jas. Wilkie questioned the advisability of the meeting passing the motion whilst there were so many non-union workmen in the various shops, and over whom the meeting had no control. He also raised the question of what a "competent workman" was, pointed out that one man might be worth a higher rate of pay than another. But, in the meantime, the duty of the union was to organise. Another workman also asked for a definition of the term "competent workman," and, further, he asked the chairman or members of the meeting to state the names of the defaulting shops—the shops in which the rate of pay had been reduced to 7d. The following were named:—Lightbody's shop in the East End; Gray's in Bath Street; Rankine's in Mount Florida; Bowie's in Scotland Street; and John M'Arthur's, Paisley Road. Several other speakers having addressed the meeting, the motion was put to the vote and adopted with only one dissentient. Mr Alexander Crossan made a statement with refersnce to Lifilithody's shop, which was named as one of those in which the rate of pay had been reduced. He stated that in that shop there were 11 union workmen receiving at least the standard rate of wages ; 5 non-union workmen receiving the same, and 3 union men receiving 6d. In reply to the chairman, Mr Cross= said that those three men had all previously been in receipt of a higher rate of wages than 7d. The Chairman asked for the names of the men, but the speaker declined to give them, as the men were presently being dealt with by the various branches of the society with which they were connected. Mr R. C. Grant, president of the Trades Council, then moved that the meeting resolve to use every legitimate means to get the few workmen not connected with the society enrolled in the association at the earliest moment. (Applause.) Mr John Hogg seconded the motion, which was also adopted. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.  AN extraordinary scene is reported from Derrybeg, County Donegal. On Tuesday a great crowd of peasantry assembled at that place, and, after attending a mass for the repose of the soul of Carey's murderer, deposited a coffin in the burying-ground of O'Donnell's family, bearing a plate with the following inscription:—" Sacred to the memory of Patrick o'. Donnell, executed in London, December 17th, 1883." A sum of £33 is stated to have been subscribed for the erection of a monument. Resolutions were passed thanking "American friends" for their assistance, as also Victor Hugo. ,