1000 Men Strike at Cook Potteries

1000 MEN STRIKE

AT COOK POTTERIES

Prospect Hill and Etruria Plants Are

Completely Tied Up By

Labor Trouble

Owing to a difference of opinion between seven kilnmen in the employ of the Cook Pottery Company and the management, growing out of the price for a certain class of electrical specialties, a strike was declared at 11 o'clock this morning in both the Etruria and Prospect Hill potteries, throwing more than 1,000 men out of employment.

The trouble between the kilnmen and Mr. Cook began about six months ago when the company began the handling of electrical tubes. The men demanded a certain price for the placing of this ware in the kilns, and this price was considered by Mr. Cook as too great.

The matter was taken before the local union of kilnmen and also referred to the National Executive Committee, which referred it back to the local union.

Recently Mr. Cook addressed a communication to the Potters' Union making a proposition to arbitrate the matter, and this proposition was refused on the ground that there was nothing to arbitrate — that the matter had been finally settled by the local union.

About a year ago Charles Howell Cook of the Cook Pottery Company made a 12-1/2 per cent increase on a certain class of small ware, and the kilnmen are now demanding the same price for the electrical tubes, claiming that they belong to the same class.

Mr. Cook contends that the tubes are not worth as much as the small wares on which he granted the increase therefore he should be compelled to pay the entire 12-1/2 per cent.

Mr. Cook stated to a Times reported this morning that he was willing to leave the matter of price to be fixed by a committee of arbitration, the committee to be composed of one man selected by the kilnmen, one by the company and a third neutral man. If the tubes were worth more than ordinary ware he was willing to pay it. If the committee agreed that the tubes were worth the entire 12-1/2 per cent. increase the company would pay it.

Just before 11 o'clock this morning the kilnmen and Mr. Cook had a final meeting, and as an understanding could not be reached the strike was called.

Up to today Mr. Cook has thought that the kilnmen should concede a portion of the 12-1/2 per cent. increase for small wares because there was not the amount of work on the tubes as on small wares where the increase is in effect.

No other pottery in the east manufactures the tubes which caused the trouble in this instance.