Reprint of this story from the March 7, 1902 issue of The Grand Encampment Herald brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History - Serving the Community.
LABORERS ON A STRIKE
Pick and Shovel Men Quit Work on Tramway, and Public Meetings Result with Steps to Organize Labor Union Being Taken.
The first so-called labor “strike” in the history of Grand Encampment occurred last Saturday when a small party of pick and shovel men quit work on the construction of the aerial tramway.
The trouble arose because of a misunderstanding as to the scale of wages. Certain common laborers were discharged by their foreman and given their time checks which called for pay at the rate of $2.50 per day for ten hours. The discharged laborers objected to the price, and demanded $3.00 per day, insisting that they supposed they were to receive that amount.
Mr. Riblet, who is managing the construction of the tram, refused to grant the demand, as it was considered by himself and his several foremen that the regular wages of the camp for common laborers was $2.50 per day.
The aggrieved men advised the other pick and shovel men of the wage scale and the bunch immediately struck for $3.00 per day, the demand being refused as before. The whole number of pick and shovel men which quit work, so the Herald is informed, were less than a dozen. The question of the price of wages became the topic of the day among the local laborers and those at Riverside, and talk of a meeting to discuss the question soon resulted in a call for the same.
On the Saturday evening stage arrived one George Brown, from Butte City, Montana, a machinist and engineer by trade and a staunch union man. His sympathy was at once expressed, and a man of his experience and ardor in labor unions appealed to the laborers as a formidable champion of their cause.
The Delmonico was selected for the meeting place, and on Saturday night, Lee Lang called to order the two hundred or more men who were assembled. George Brown was elected chairman and Pierce Culleton secretary. Mr. Brown addressed the men with a speech of some length, noting his experience in labor troubles and warning the laborers against any improper conduct or unwise action in order to accomplish the desired results. His talk was in all one of reason and consideration.
The ultimate result of the meeting was the selection of a committee of five, who were empowered to draw up resolutions setting forth the grievances and demands of the laborers, and present same for consideration at another meeting to be held at Riverside on Monday night.
The committee acted accordingly, and on the appointed night presented the resolutions. The hall at Riverside was crowded with men, many being present from the hills as well as from the two towns.
George Brown again presided. The resolutions as first read were not adopted, but as amended and adopted read as follows:
“Whereas, it has come to our knowledge that the management of the tramway construction has refused to pay more than $2.50 per day for common laborers and $3.50 per day for mechanics, and Whereas, it is the sense of this meeting that these amounts are not sufficient when the high price of living in the community is taken into consideration, and Whereas, it is the sense of this meeting that the following wages should be paid; $3.00 per day for common laborers, $4.00 per day for mechanics, and that these amounts be paid for ten hours work.
The original text of the resolutions called for only nine hours work. Much discussion was indulged in with the general sentiment being to make only a reasonable demand.
The men present were invited to sign the resolutions, and nearly everyone signed. The following day the Riverside and Encampment merchants were called upon to endorse the document, many of the latter merchants refusing to do so.
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