We were getting paid every two weeks.

It is not practical to pay oftener in the tin trade.

A man's work has to be measured and weighed, and the plate he rolls on Saturday can not be cut and measured in time for him to get his pay for it that week.

For the pay envelope is handed to him Saturday noon, and his Saturday's rolling will not go through the cutter until Monday.

He can not be paid for it until it is in shape to be measured.
So we were satisfied to be paid twice a month.
But the mill was now making big profits and we demanded a raise in pay.
The mill owners countered by refusing to "recognize" the union.