24 were strikes of garment workers, 32 were strikes of textile workers, 34 were strikes of iron workers, 25 were strikes of tobacco workers. Few of the above were of such nature as to require the services of the Board, but, to the majority of the remaining 225 disturbances, attention was given and the demands made upon the time and services of the Board during the year far exceeded anything in that line in the history of the Board. The records of the different strikes show that in most cases the strikers gained all, or at least a portion of that for which they contended 335 of the strikes having been successful or compromised, as against 212 which were unsuccessful. The causes of the different strikes were varied and many, but the question of wages was responsible for most of them-363. Questions bearing on unionism brought about 104, leaving but 80 for all other causes. Of the total number of strikes, 167 were of but one day's duration or less; 16 lasted more than one month. Of the more important strikes during the year, the following are selected, as indicating the nature and scope of the work per. formed by the Board: AIR BRAKE MAKERS. During the latter part of March a committee from the laborers employed in the shops of the Watertown plant of the New York Air Brake Company sent the following communication to the local officers of the company: "To the New York Air Brake Company: "The undersigned committee, on behalf of the laborers em ployed in your local brake works, demand that laborers hereafter receive $1.50 per day of ten hours. "Dated Watertown, N. Y., April 2, 1900. "M. FLANDER, 1 “P. A. COLEMAN, 66 W. E. MCFADDEN, "J. CARLIN, "Committee." The company declined to grant the demand, and during the week the committee held another conference with the local superintendent of the company, but before the committee was able to report to the men, the company distributed among the various foremen, papers for the men to sign, the understanding being that those who signed the papers could remain in the employ of the company at the rate of $1.371⁄2 a day, while those who refused to sign were required to call at the office for their time. But few signed the papers, and on Monday, April 2nd, 268 laborers and helpers refused to go to work, and pickets were stationed by the leaders of the strike to persuade all of the other laborers employed in the foundry department to refrain from working until the demands of the strikers for $1.50 a day should be granted. The lack of helpers made work impossible in other departments, and by night 600 men were out, and the following day the entire plant was shut down, throwing into idleness more than 1,000 men. On April 3d Commissioner Webster visited Watertown and conferred with both sides. The superintendent of the company refused to recede from his position, as did the strikers from theirs. On April 6th Commissioner Webster went to New York and endeavored to secure from the officers of the company, concessions which would be accepted by the men and bring about an end to the strike, but the officials visited refused to change their attitude, stating that they could pay no more than the $1.37 the local superintendent had offered, and that they were prepared to close down the plant indefinitely. Commissioner Webster reported to the men the result of his efforts, and they in meeting voted not to return to work for the rate per day offered them. On April 16th Commissioner Webster again visited Watertown. He found no change in the situation and at once left for New York, where he held another conference with the president of the company. As a result of this conference, the following letter was sent to the local manager of the company: "NEW YORK, April 17th, 1900. W. H. POLLARD, Superintendent New York Air Brake Company : "Dear Sir.- Mr. Webster tells me that you had a paper signed by some of the laborers saying they would stay in our works for $1.371 a day. Those who did not sign the paper left the employ of the company. I did not understand that any such paper was signed. However it may be, it has no significance whatever, and I have stated to Mr. Webster that if there was any such paper signed you would ignore it, and in opening up your works you would not require the signature of any man as to the term of his employment or the rate of wages. I have also stated to Mr. Webster that we have never heretofore made any discrimination as to union or non-union labor. I am not aware that we have ever asked the question of an employe whether he was a member of a union or not. I have also stated to Mr. Webster that if the men desire to go back on our terms, which are $1.373 per day for labor, you will open up the shop at the earliest possible moment and make no discrimination in regard to the men who left our employ. At the same time, of course, we reserve the right to discharge any man we do not need or do not think worth the amount that we are proposing to pay for this kind of labor. My understanding is that you will re-employ all the men that desire to come back, who were in our employ at the time of the shutdown - April 2d. "Yours truly, "JOHN C. THOMPSON, Secretary and Treasurer." Commissioner Webster immediately returned to Watertown and advised the men to go to work on the terms mentioned in the letter. This they did after declaring the strike at an end on April 18th. SALT MINERS. On July 20th the members of the Rock Salt Miners' Union employed in the mines of the Retsof Salt Company at Geneseo served the following demands on the company: 1st. That the miners be paid $1.50 a day. 2d. That the union be recognized. 3d. That the system of collecting 14c a week for the mine physician be changed so that 21c per day might be deducted for each day of employment. The company agreed to pay miners $1.50 a day after they had worked for the company three months, but refused to recognize the union. They conceded to the miners the right to make any arrangements they could with the mine physician. The committee that presented the demands professed to be satisfied, but on July 21st they presented the demands again, insisting that the company should require all miners to join the union. No attention was paid to this demand, and on July 23rd the miners ordered a strike, and 200 men quit work. Commissioner Webster, of this Board, visited Geneseo on July 27th and held conferences with the superintendent and with the men, and on the 28th Commissioner Gilbert conferred with representatives of both parties. The strikers would not accept the terms of the superintendent and he would not recede from them, neither would he make any proposition to them or deal with them, but on July 29th he sent the following communication to Commissioners Gilbert and Webster: RETSOF, N. Y., July 29, 1900. "Messrs. GILBERT and WEBSTER, State Board of Arbitrators: “Gentlemen.— In reply to your inquiry on what basis this unfortunate strike may be settled as far as the Retsof Mining Company is concerned, would say, in view of the fact that the men went out without any grievances that had not been adjusted previous to their leaving our employ, all men who wish to return to work can do so except such men as have been very obnoxious and detrimental to the company. 'Men returning to work at once who are re-employed will not lose any rights of service. The management in the future, as in the past, are willing to adjust any grievance that men may have, providing it is just. There is no intention to discriminate in regard to strikers, except as above mentioned. "New men who have entered the employ of this company will be retained. The company reserves the right to hire or discharge any men they see fit. The company also intends to change any system in or out of the mine, in regard to working employes, without consulting or hearing any protest. 66 Referring to the wage system, men in the mine will receive at the rate of $1.40 per day until they have been in service three months, and if satisfactory will receive $1.50 per day. Experienced powder men and experienced drillers will receive $1.60 per day. Top men will be paid according to merits. Referring to the system of deducting 14 cents per week for the doctor, after several consultations with different committees, I understand that the men are perfectly willing to let this remain, this company having no interest whatever, and if the men can make any better arrangement with the doctor, we have no objection whatever, except that we must have a doctor on the ground for any immediate service that may be required of him. Referring to the paragraph in regard to adjusting any griev ances that men may have, providing they are just, I wish to emphasize the fact that only such individual men who have grievances will be heard. No outsiders or committees will be received in regard to it. "Yours truly, "D. HYMAN, "General Superintendent.” |