Labor Woes.

Nail Feeder.

In 1884 Joseph was employed as a nail feeder in the nail mill. His younger brothers Edwin and Charles worked as a nail feeder and nail packer, respectively and as such they may have worked directly with David Jones, an expert nailer who had come to Bay View from New Castle, Pennsylvania with his sister Elizabeth Wolfe and her family. The mens' pay was based on the number of kegs of nails they produced. The nailer (David) was considered skilled labor and he would earn about four times that of his feeders.

Labor Strikes.

David Jones was treasurer of the Amalgamated Association, Lodge No. 4 composed of nailers. He like many other workers around the country joined unions to have a voice in the conditions under which they were employed. Puddler's Hall was built in Bay View with the help of these unions to serve as a local meeting place.

Frequent financial "panics" in the late 19th century meant that employment at the mill was sporadic and the closures left men and their families to fend for themselves. Newspapers regularly reported mill closures. Strikes were called to dispute the mill's practice of paying its employees only once a month, and to stop the practice of tying wages to the price of the pig-iron used in the production of the rails. Of prime concern was a reduction of the 10-12 hour workday. It was not long before workers organized a march under yellow banners declaring "Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for What We Will."

In May 1886 union leaders called for a nationwide strike to press for the eight hour day. May 3rd every factory in Milwaukee, including the E.P. Allis & Company works, the Hoffman and Billings Foundry, and White Hill Sewing Machine Works, had been shut down.

Every factory but the rolling mill.

Owners Strike Back.

On the 4th in Haymarket Square in Chicago someone threw a bomb at police officers who were trying to disperse the strikers. Fearing violence in their own town, officials in Milwaukee called for the National Guard and local militias to maintain control.

The New York Times later reported "The population of Milwaukee is two-thirds foreign, and a large portion of these are very ignorant. They are not Socialist or Anarchists but are usually led by their priests." On the 5th, Polish workers gathered at St. Stanislaus church at Grove and Mitchell streets and began their march. It was alleged that Alderman Theodore Rudzinski encouraged the group to descend upon the rolling mill.

As they approached Bay View their numbers grew. As described in The Milwaukee Sentinel "...A great shout went up when the buildings of the great rolling mills became visible down on the lake shore." . . . this was the North Chicago Rolling Mill where Joseph and his brothers worked. "…The mob swung into South Bay street and rapidly approached the stationary bridge crossing Deer Creek…" where guard members were waiting.

Governor Jeremiah Rusk, championing law and order, had given orders to shoot to kill to protect the mill. The crowd, which by some accounts had swollen to over 1,500 men, women and children, failed to heed warnings to stop. Though unarmed, the group hurled stones and insults at the guardsmen. The order was given to fire and "…there was every evidence on surrounding objects to show that the militia had fired low, and 'with intent to kill,'…" At least seven lay dead, including some residents who had no role in the strike.

The New York Times stated: "At a conference of the authorities it was decided to take decisive measures to crush in its incipiency the Social revolution which this element has been breeding in Milwaukee for some time past." The strategy was effective – the Bay View Massacre had a chilling effect on the labor movement's quest for an eight hour day for years to come.

On the day of the massacre Joseph was likely at work in the mill as it was still in operation. It is difficult to ascertain what role, if any, he played in the May strike. He did have a connection with Polish workers and Alderman Rudzinski.