PAINTERS LOWELL.

The journeymen painters of Lowell announced their intention, about February 1, to go out on strike unless they were granted a minimum wage of $2.25 a day before April 1; but on the last day of March the master painters, with one exception, paid them off, saying that their services were at an end until they were willing to return at the old minimum rate of $2 a day. Two hundred painters were thus discharged. Owing to the federation of trades engaged in the construction of buildings, it was apprehended that a series of sympathetic strikes would ensue. Both parties assumed an uncompromising attitude, and prepared for a long struggle.

On the second day of April there was some correspondence between the parties on the subject of a conference, the journeymen expressing their willingness, and the master painters replying that they were ready. To the masters' reply was added, unfortunately, a postcript, from which it might be inferred that the journeymen painters were anxiously seeking the conference, while the masters were perfectly indifferent. This incensed the recent employees, who voted after a long debate to send no committee to confer with the master painters' association.

At this juncture the Board interposed, and by mediation obtained a reconsideration of the vote and brought about a conference immediately. The journeymen said that if this demand were granted, they would sign an agreement to make no further demand concerning wages for at least two years. The master painters rejected the proposition, and at a late hour of night the conference adjourned indefinitely without result. On the 7th of April the masters put some

non-union men at work, and their recent employees voted to start a co-operative business. By the 11th of April the old hands began to return at the former rate of $2 a day. The difficulty was slowly vanishing when a new dispute arose, as set forth in the following.

BUILDING TRADES - LOWELL.

Work on a series of new buildings, known as the Lowell Textile School, was brought to a standstill on May 26 by a strike of building trades, for the reason that one of the sub-contractors, Buckland by name, had hired non-union painters; and considerable apprehension was felt throughout the city that the school would not be finished in time for occupancy in September, as contemplated. Fifty-two men went out on strike without giving notice, and leaving stock unfinished and not in its place. Bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers and stair-builders were involved. It appeared that an agreement had been entered into on the 25th of March between Lowell building contractors and the Bricklayers' Union, by which it was agreed (Article 8) that, before resorting to a strike in any difficulty that might arise, the grievance should be referred to arbitrators. The union having participated in the sympathetic strike, several master masons entered into an agreement that they should not consider themselves bound by the trade agreement of March 25. On May 28, representatives of the Painters Union and the Building Trades Council respectively, Messrs. Williams and Convery, notified the Board of the difficulty, whereupon the Board interposed, and learned that nothing could be done in the premises. Mr. Buckland was performing satisfactory work under his contract, and the general contractor,

Mr. O'Hearn, could see no solution of the controversy. Mr. O'Hearn also stated that he was powerless to remedy any real or fancied grievance, inasmuch as the building inspectors had reported their satisfaction with the work performed. Both parties were informed that, if the situation should change in any essential respect, the Board would be willing to interpose once more, with a view to settling it. It was plain that the difficulty could be terminated only by the union or by Mr. Buckland, who had the contract for painting; but he, having calculated his bid upon the basis of old prices, could not accede to the demand without a loss to himself.

On the 2d of June the Bricklayers' Union reconsidered their action, and ordered all members back to work. On the following day the building operations on the new school were proceeding as though nothing had happened.

QUARRYMEN-QUINCY.

On the approach of spring, negotiations for a new agreement were begun between the Quincy quarry workers and their employers, the men saying that they desired similar terms to those accorded other workmen in the quarries, demanding a work day of 8 hours, without reduction of pay. Subsequently the following were demanded also: weekly payments, double rate per hour for over-time work, and that the new agreement should take effect on June 1, or earlier if the parties to a similar controversy at Barre, Vt., should agree on an earlier day.

On March 1, no agreement having been reached, 400 quarrymen quit work. Soon after the strike some citizens tried to induce a renewal of the negotiations, but both par

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ties were uncompromising. As the quarried stock was used up, polishers, cutters, tool-sharpeners and others were obliged to cease work, and finally the quarries closed. The chief industry of the city was now at a standstill, dition that affected every citizen. It was stated to the Board, as a reason of the demand for the shorter day, that it would afford employment to more men. The employers denied this, saying that in the granite quarrying of Quincy a decrease of time would really mean a decrease of output, since there is a limit to the number of men that can work about a derrick; more than 12 would be in one another's way. As for increasing the number of derricks, it would not be practical to erect them except where the required stone could be found. Responding to pressure of the citizens, the Quarrymen's Union waited upon the manufacturers, and asked them to make the best proposition they could, with a view to settling the controversy. The manufacturers then offered to grant the 8-hour day, with an increase of 10 per cent. over the present 8-hour day, for the months of January, February, July, August, November and December, and 9 hours a day during the other months, the men to be paid at the same rate for the extra hour; and, furthermore, to grant the 8-hour day for the entire year, as soon as their competitors at Barre, Vt., should do the same. This offer, which was within 2 per cent. of the men's demands, was rejected by the union. The business of the season was stated to be ruined, and that already $100,000 worth of orders had gone from Quincy to other places.

On the 21st the Board went to Quincy and sought and obtained separate interviews with representatives of both sides. A conference of parties was proposed for their consideration, and accepted provisionally on the part of the

men, subject to the ratification of the strikers, who were to meet that evening. The next day information was received that an effort would be made to settle it on the 23d, and encouraging reports continued to come. Finally, however, it appeared that negotiations were at an end. The Board thereupon renewed its efforts to bring the parties together in a conference; but, finding that Messrs. Wadsworth and Pratt, leading business men, were acting as intermediaries between the strikers' union and the employers' association, and matters progressing towards a settlement, assurances were received from the parties that they would promptly notify the Board in case of failure.

On March 27 some carefully formulated propositions were presented simultaneously to the union and to the association by Messrs. Wadsworth and Pratt. The union adopted the propositions; the employers' association rejected them. At this point the Board suggested to the employers that no more new hands be hired while negotiations were pending, in view of the fact that such practice rendered mediation of any kind extremely difficult. Mr. Wadsworth suggested that, because of the union's action, the employers should reconsider their attitude. On the 29th of March the employers met again, preparatory to a conference of parties on the following day. At half-past 9 o'clock in the evening of the 30th the Board was notified that a settlement had been effected in a conference brought about by Messrs. Wadsworth and Pratt. The following are the terms of the settlement:

SECTION 1. The committee of the Granite Manufacturers' Association and the Quarrymen's Union do establish that 8 hours shall constitute a day's work, beginning April 1, 1902, with the present 9 hours' pay.