Glens Falls in 1919 — IP strike
Is a war over when the troops come home?
That was the philosophical question at the heart of a two-week strike in 1919 at 32 International Paper Co. mills, including those in South Glens Falls, Fort Edward, Corinth and Ticonderoga.
A war time agreement called for employees to receive a 15 percent increase in wages six months after the conclusion of World War I.
Unions said the war ended Nov. 11, 1918, when the Armistice was signed.
“Our members believe that the war came to an end with the signing of the armistice,” said John P. Burke, international president of the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Workers Union. “We call the attention of the War Labor Board to the fact that President Wilson, himself, addressing both houses of Congress said: ‘Thus the great world war comes to an end.’”
Paper company executives said the war would not be ended until the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which, as it would turn out, the United States never ratified.
About 5,000 members of the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers Union went on strike after midnight May 11, rejecting a company offer for a 10 percent wage increase.
The Mechanics Trades union also went on strike.
International Paper had agreed to a 15 percent increase for members of the International Brotherhood of Paper Makers, which represented skilled workers, keeping that union from striking.
International Paper went into the strike in a position of strength, having stock piles of finished paper in its warehouses.
“While definite figures were not available last night, it is said the International Paper Company has sufficient supply of paper on hand to supply its trade for a period of 30 days,” The Post-Star reported.
Finch, Pruyn & Company avoided a strike, reaching agreement with unions for a 15 percent wage increase for skilled workers and 12 percent for unskilled workers.
“Some dissatisfaction is being expressed by the men on strike at International plants for the full amount of their original demands,” The Post-Star reported. “It is generally believed that the settlement made between the employees and officers of Finch, Pruyn and Company, affecting about 300 men, will have considerable weight in International mills.”
Labor leaders became more confident of settling with International Paper Co. after settlements were reached with Spanish River Pulp and Paper Co. of Canada, Great Northern Paper Co., St. Croix Paper Co. and Tidewater Paper Co.
Settlements were pending with Union Bag and Paper Co. of Hudson Falls, St. Regis Paper Co. and De Grasse Paper Co.
The strike ended May 26 when International Paper management agreed to meet with union leaders later that week in New York City to negotiate a settlement.
“The wheels of 32 mills of the International Paper Co. will turn this morning at 7 o’clock for the first time in two weeks,” The Post-Star reported.
Union delegates to the negotiating conference included Timothy Sheehy of Glens Falls, Anthony Reed and Elmer Glidden of Fort Edward, and Patrick Conley and Bartholomew Doody of Corinth.
Sources: The Post-Star — May 5, 12, 14, 19, 26, 1919.
