Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1901 — SHIPYARD MEN STRIKE [ARTICLE]

SHIPYARD MEN STRIKE

Newport News Company Loses All Its Skilled Mechanics in the Machine Shops. NEW YORK FIRM “FIRES” STRIKERS Chicago Machinists Get Ont Their Pickets in Regular Military Style—Convention Meets. Newport News, Va., June 4.—The machinists in the employ of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock company to the number of 500—which virtually includes all the skilled mechanics in the machine department—went on strike yesterday morning, their demands for a shorter working day having been refused by Superintendent Post. The yard will continue in operation until the absence of the machinists interferes with the work in hand. Superintendent Post says the yard does i»>t contemplate taking any action whatever; that .the company will not admit of any interference with the management of its business, and will not arbitrate any (Juestion With the men on strike. A number of the strikers have already left, and others are preparing to leave the city. AH Strikers Were DischargedNew York, June 4.—There was a partial resumption of work at tlie shops of the Crocker-Wheeler Electric company in Ampere, N. J„ yesterday, the company having secured Rome nonunion men to take the places of strikers. President Wheeler said that places would be found for any of the old hands who wished to return at tht former rate of wages and hours of work. There was a big crowd of strikers at the works, but they made no attempt to interfere with any man that desired to pass into the works. The company’s first step when the men struck was to discharge every man who refused to abandon the strike. The next was to arrange for the employment of a force of nonunion workmen. The new employes, 150 strong, including a number of students who have been studying electrical engineering at Columbia college, are said to be encamped inside the works. It is known that the company has built a kitchen and has placed 150 cots in the shops. Machinists In Annual Convention. Toronto, Ont., June 4. —The annual convention of the International Association of Machinists opened here yesterday. About 200 delegates were present. In his annual address President O’Connell showed that during his term tlie executive had approved of sixty-six strikes, involving 9,050 machinists, of which forty-one were won, ten settled on compromise and ten lost. Regarding piece work, the address recommends either to accept it on condition that the employer will unionize his shop, or to declare war against tlie entire system.

STATE OF THINGS AT CHICAGO. No Negotiation. With the Striker. Until tlie Dig Employer. Meet. Chicago, June 4.—The manufacturers and tlie 1.000 machinists who have struck have apparently settled down for a siege. Tlie strikers put out pickets in military fashion, but so far as known no attempts were made to engage non-union men. Tlie pickets are divided into companies, and these subdivided into squads, under the command respectively of captains aud sergeants. At stated intervals each squad is relieved by another. There will be no settlement of the machinists’ strike in Chicago until after June 11. This was the decision of tlie local manufacturers yesterday afternoon when tlie members of the Chicago Association of Machinery Manufacturers pledged allegiance to the National Metal Trades association and agreed not to enter into negotiations with any of tlieir employes until after the great gathering of employers in New Y'ork city on June 11. While the manufacturers were discussing tlieir future action the machinists were not idle, a numtier of machinists leaving the three plants of the Crane company to join the strikers. Statements differ as to the number of men who left the Crane plant. Assistant Business Agent Ireland, of the machinists; insisting that nearly 175 men quit work, while Secretary J. B. Murphy, for the company, said that not more than sixteen or seventeen men quit.

Besides the men in the Crane plants eighty workmen struck in three other places, while agreements, according to Ireland, of the machinists were signed with five firms whose names will be given out later.

Strike Not Declarixl Off.

New York, June 4.—The expectation of the strikers that tlie strike on the rapid transit tunnel would be declared off last night was not realized. There was a hitch that lias got to be overcome.