(3) _The Machinery and Metal Trades_
Unlike the miners and the railway brotherhoods, the unions in the
machinery and metal trades met with small success in their efforts for
"recognition" and trade agreements. The outstanding unions in the
industry are the International Association of Machinists and the
International Molders' Union, with a half dozen smaller and very small
unions.[66] The molders' International united in the same union the
stove molders, who as was seen had been "recognized" in 1891, and the
molders of parts of machinery and other foundry products. The latter
found the National Founders' Association as their antagonist or
potential "co-partner" in the industry.
The upward swing in business since 1898, combined with the growth of
trade unionism and with the successful negotiation of the Interstate
agreement in the soft coal mining industry, created an atmosphere
favorable to trade agreements. For a time "recognition" and its
implications seemed to all concerned, the employer, the unions, and the
public, a sort of cure-all for industrial disputes. Accordingly, in
March 1899, the National Founders' Association (organized in the
previous year and comprising foundrymen engaged principally in machinery
manufacturing and jobbing) and the International Molders' Union of North
America met and drew up the following tersely worded agreement which
became known as the New York Agreement:
"That in event of a dispute arising between members of the
respective organizations, a reasonable effort shall be made by the
parties directly at interest to effect a satisfactory adjustment of
the difficulty; failing to do which, either party shall have the
right to ask its reference to a Committee of Arbitration which
shall consist of the President of the National Founders'
Association and the President of the Iron Molders' Union or their
representatives, and two other representatives from each
organization appointed by the respective Presidents.
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