30,000 locked out : $b the great strike of the building trades in Chicago — John Locke — John Shaqi
30,000 locked out : $b the great strike of the building trades in Chicago
John Locke · en
In the following resolutions, passed at the regular meeting held
June 10, the Central Council thus expressed its views upon the
importance of uniform working hours:
_Whereas_, In the opening of this Council it is of the greatest
interest to all of the trades here represented that the hours of
work on buildings in course of erection should be uniform in all
the trades.
_Resolved_, That while we recognize the right of every trade to
establish its own working hours, we think those established by a
large majority, not only in Chicago but in other cities, should be
considered as a precedent for others to follow.
At the same meeting the stand taken by the Master Masons was thus
indorsed:
_Resolved_, That the Association of Master Masons and Builders has
the heartiest support of the building trades here represented in
its battle against exactions of an unscrupulous and tyrannical
trade union, which is the enemy alike to the building trades and
the interests of its own members.
The position they have taken under the principles adopted by the
conference is a just one, they have held out the olive branch to
their former employes, and it only remains to inspire them with
confidence in its representations to the end that work may speedily
be resumed.
GEORGE TAPPER, President.
F. C. SCHOENTHALER, Secretary.
THE BRICKLAYERS' UNION DESPISED.
Organized labor in Chicago had no sympathy for the Bricklayers' union.
Members of other unions entertained for it a feeling of bitterness which
was constantly being manifested. This was fully illustrated at a meeting
of the Amalgamated Building Trades Council held Saturday evening, June
18th, at which delegates stated that the Bricklayers' union had taken
contracts from Master Masons for the erection of buildings, and had then
hired non-union hod-carriers, carpenters, cornice-makers, lathers and
laborers of all classes. The Bricklayers' union was characterized as
"the meanest organization on God's green footstool," and it was remarked
that it would be a good thing for Chicago if it was wiped out of
existence. The union was bitterly denounced for its selfish, mercenary,
unjust, tyrannical conduct toward other labor organizations.
On Sunday, June 19th, at a meeting of the Trade and Labor Assembly,
Edward Mulrany, of the Bricklayers' union, made a vicious attack upon
James Brennock, of the Building Trades council, on account of the action
of the previous evening. Mr. Brennock, an old man, attempted to explain
the true situation, but his voice was drowned by Mulrany, who fairly
yelled: "Lies! lies! you're a liar!" and heaped abuse upon the old man
to such an extent that he was forced to subside.