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
Other speeches of the evening were made by M. L. Crawford, of the
typographical union; George Lang, a bricklayer; William Kliver,
president of the trades assembly; John Pierson, ex-president, and A. E.
Vorkeller, president of the Bricklayers' union; William Davidson and C.
R. Temple.
TO MAKE BRICK.
Friday, June 17th, the Chicago brick manufacturers met and agreed to
resume work in their yards Monday, June 20th, and to continue to work
until they made enough brick to fill their sheds. If by that time the
strike was not settled they were to close their yards for the season.
AN ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC.
June 18th the Central Council of the Building Interests issued the
following address to the public:
The Central Council of the Building Interests of Chicago, which now
addresses you, was organized June 1st, 1887, under the following
circumstances:
When, on the 29th of April last, the United Order of Bricklayers
and Stonemasons of Chicago decided, without consultation with their
employers, that they would only receive their pay every two weeks
on Saturdays, the Master Masons' association refused to comply with
the demand, and the union men struck on their work wherever it was
refused. The Master Masons' association then resolved to suspend
all work on and after the 13th of May, and did so unanimously. The
fire-proofing companies which employed men of the same union took
the same action. The strike was made inoperative for the time being
by the lockout of the employers.
The Builders' and Traders' exchange met on the following day,
resolved to sustain the Master Masons, and called upon each trade
represented to send three representatives to a general conference
to consider the situation. The conference was organized with a full
representation, and on the 25th of May adopted the following
platform and code of principles to be submitted and be ratified by
all the building organizations:
We affirm that absolute personal independence of the individual to
work or not to work, to employ or not to employ, is a fundamental
principle which should never be questioned or assailed; that upon
it depends the security of our whole social fabric and business
prosperity, and that employers and workmen should be equally
interested in its defense and preservation.