Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1904 — COST OF STRIKE GROWS, [ARTICLE]

COST OF STRIKE GROWS,

Union Men and Packers Have Lost Va»t Sums. The labor stinggle involving Chicago’s greatest industry—that centering In the meat packing plants at the stock yards- lias cost both the union men and the packers a vast sum. A statistical o<mip:il'tson shows the effects of the strike. The strikers lu;iv<.< lost, each week. S3IS.(MKt in wages, making a total of Sl.s'.ii'.tKK) thus sacrificed. What the losses of the packers have boon is problematical. > That they have bficu immense is admitted, but no estimates have been furnished by those in position to tell. The effect on the Chicago live stock market has been great. During tinfirst weeks of tlm struggle the receipts were so small that the city became one of the smaller centers instead of the chief market of the world. The big packers, who had bought the most and the best consignments, were practically out of the market. As the struggle dragged along, however, they began to gather working forces large enoug I to run their plants on a considerable scale. A marked improvement was noted early in August.

The packers in the last two weeks have gained in the number of men employed. in the numbar of animals slaughtered, and in the shipments to outside cities. From the first the employers found the least difficulty in securing men to run thei/bog slaughtering departmants. Less skill was required to kill and cut up hogs than cattle and sheep, aud the packers centered their energies on efforts to bring the department up to normal. Two weaks ago they were fairly successful and now they declare they have no more to ask.

The most skilled butchers were required in the cattle slaughtering department. Another fact led the employers to go slow with this part of their plants. Each of the big Chicago houses has branches in western cities These distant plants, not so seriously affected by the strike, were able to handle cattle enough to keep the companies running without the necessity of putting excessive pressure on the Chicago establishments. Fort Worth, Texas, was especially relied oh by two of the companies. ThepTantsinthat city kill practically no animals but cattle. They were and are now run and they make up any deficiency arising from the short output of the Chicago plants.

The volume of output, the packers say, is not wholly dependent on the number of men on the pay rolls. Last year thero were many workers in the employ of the companies who* put in little more than half time eacti week. Now all thc-employes work full time. The owners of the plants say that the actual numbar of hours’ work a week of the present force is not much less than the number of hours of work a week of the former larger crews. Consumers of meat have fcJt the effects of the strike in the advanced prices charged. The dealers have raised their figures in accordance with the credulity of their patrons, the packers declare. The marketmen, however, say they have been forced to pay more for their goods. The big packing companies,- their managers maintain, have tint materially raised prices since the beg' ,mg of the strike. An advance was made Ayhen the struggle was a few days old. This, it is asserted, has not been continued. The sympathetic strike of the teamsters cut the big companies off from the Chicago trade and threw it to the independent concerns. The packers quote figures to prove that these smaller companies have taken advantage of their increased trade and have charged greatly augmented prices. While there has been much complaint .from the live stock producers, the statistics indicate that they have suffered little in the stock yards market. Prices have remained fairly steady, although tliere were some days early in the struggle when large receipts caused disastrous slumps. The loss of the farmer has been chiefly at home. He has, been obliged to hold back and feed cattle, hogs and sheep already fattened for the mai-ket.