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REPORTS OF CASES.

J. BROWN & SONS-SALEM.

Early in January the shoe cutters employed by J. Brown & Sons at Salem presented to the firm a written demand for increased prices, which the employers pronounced excessive; and a conference was held on January 8, in the presence of the Board. The men, represented by the organizer of the American Federation of Labor, offered certain prices per week as an alternative. The employers said that under the old scale of prices men were able to earn more than these amounts; but the firm would accept a list that would yield the desired minimum, provided the distribution of prices be left to the judgment of the State Board of Arbitration, considering the quality of stock, the method of manufacture and a fair average amount of product in a week of fifty-nine hours.

The conference resulted in a disagreement, and a strike ensued on January 9. An application dated January 10 was received by the Board. A conference was held on the 12th, at which the employer amended the application, in response to a request of the general president of the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union. On the 15th the employers in

formed the Board of an interview with the workmen and

their agent regarding a settlement, and inquired what the

firm might do in the absence of the Board. He was advised to neglect no opportunity for making a settlement, regardless of the application then on file. On the 16th an agreement was reached whereby the men gained a substantial increase over prices paid before the strike, and thereupon returned to work.

CIGAR MAKERS-BOSTON.

A strike of cigar makers was reported to the Board on January 24, and mediation was thereupon offered to the manufacturers' association and the cigar makers' local union in Boston.

The strike was for an increase of $1 over the prices specified in an agreement made the previous June. Union shops were idle in consequence, and hundreds of men and women were thrown out of work. The strikers appointed a committee of conference; but the manufacturers declined to recognize it and appealed to the Cigar Makers' International Union. Officers of that body came to Boston, refused to sanction the strike, and ordered the cigar makers to return to work. On January 29 the shops were opened, and as many union workmen as were needed for the stock on hand were re-employed. Others were notified that there would be places for all in two or three days. Many, however, remained out on strike.

The union had no dispute with the employers, and the strikers, as such, had no organization that the manufacturers and the representatives of organized labor would recognize. So far as the manufacturers were concerned, the difficulty was at an end.

The contest thereafter was waged within the union, and ceased to attract public attention.

ROBINSON BREWING COMPANY-BOSTON.

Information was received in December, 1899, from the Boston Brewers' Association, concerning a controversy in the brewery of the Robinson Brewing Company at Roxbury.

It appeared that on December 13 the management of the brewery dismissed one of the engineers for cause, pending consideration of his case by the union to which he belonged. On the 16th Messrs. Grasshoff, McCarthy and Dolloff, vested with full power, called at the brewery, and in behalf of the International Union of Steam Engineers demanded his reinstatement without loss of pay for time out, or they would declare a strike of engineers. After consideration the employer resolved to take him back, under the following protest:

BOSTON, December 15, 1899. Messrs. GRASSHOFF, MCCARTHY and DOLLOFF, Committee International Union Steam Engineers, No. 16, of Boston, A. F. of L. GENTLEMEN:- In compliance with your demand of this date for the reinstatement of engineer, we do so under protest.

Protesting that we only do so upon threats made by you, as the committee representing the International Union Steam Engineers, that the other engineers in our employ will be immediately called out unless said demands are complied with, and we reserve to ourselves the privilege of taking such steps as we deem advisable for our future protection.

Your very respectfully,

ROBINSON BREWING COMPANY,

A. W. ROBINSON, Treasurer.

When the members of the committee had read the protest, they declined to receive it, and renewed their demand

for the unconditional reinstatement of the man in question. It was finally arranged for him to return and receive pay for time lost.

The treasurer, believing the case still open, appealed to the Boston Brewers' Association, December 19, to resist by united action such a demand. The association sent a written request to the Engineers' Union to appoint a committee to confer with the committee of Boston brewers on the subject of the alleged grievances. The union replied saying that it had settled its case with the Robinson Brewery. On January 27 the following letter was received from the secretary of the Breweries' Association:

BOSTON BREWERS' ASSOCIATION,

BOSTON, MASS., January 27, 1900.

State Board of Arbitration and Conciliation, State House, Boston, Mass. MY DEAR SIRS : I desire to call your attention to a controversy between the Robinson Brewing Company, a member of this association, and the International Union of Steam Engineers, regarding the discharge for cause of a member of the union above mentioned. I enclose herewith a copy of the statement of the Robinson Brewing Company, and also of the correspondence between this office and the union. This is by no means the only cause of grievance which the brewers have against the engineers' union, in fact, there are several of a similar nature, showing utter unreasonableness upon the part of the union to calmly and judicially adjust differences.

It seems to me that this is a case which it would be advantageous for your Board to examine into, with a view to securing all parties at interest fair and just treatment; and I think, further, that your Board should impress upon the engineers the folly in the long run of using such dictatorial measures in dealing with employers.

Trusting that you will give this matter your careful consideration, and hoping that you will be able to so present the matter to the engineers that there may be no repetition of these disagreeable incidents, I have the honor to remain,

Very respectfully yours,

H. V. HUSE, Secretary.

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