The New York herald., 1879-07-15
SUCCESSFUL STRIKERS.

EAST RIVER STEAMBOAT EMPLOYEES FORCE AN
ADVANCE IN THEIR wAGEs-coMPLAISISG OF
HARD WORK AND POOR PAY.
strike of employees East River steamboats, has
been averted in unexpected manner. the demands
of the men having been acceded to by the officials of
the steamship lines concerned. The deck hands.
stevedores and fremen on the New York and Hart
ford Steamship. Company were the first to
complain They allege that they have been
overworked. their hours for rest seldom
exceeding six out of twenty-four. and their
wages reduced to starvation rates. Dur
ing what they term the "good times"--the years Of
the late war-the deck hands received $50 month.
the stevedores $35 and the fremen $40. These
we're gradually reduced to s20 $23 and $25 respec-
lively. The complaints of the against these
reductions and their repeated demands for
higher wages disregarded. Several meet
ings of the employees Of the New YORK
and Hartford. New York and New Haven
and New York aad Bridgeport lines were held. and it
was resolved to protest in effective manner
against any further reduction should it be at
tempted. The leading official of the first mentioned
line is Mr.. W. H. Goodspeed. and he resides at Good
speeds Landing, on the Connecticut River.
On Friday afternoon the troubles of the
men brought to o crisis by the action
Of that gentleman. 1t appears that the water has
become SO low in the Connecticut River that 1t is
deemed advisable not to run the steamboats, above
Middletown. Mr.. Goodspeed accordingly decided to
have the freight transferred at that place to
and thence hauled up to Hartford. This determine
ton announced to the
the steamer State Of New York. bound for
this port arrived at Goodspeeds Landing
to perform the additional work Of loading and un-
loading the barges unless they received additional
wages. Their demands were rejected at first. but
MIR. Goodspeed. realizing the loss that would accrue
to the company from the detention Of the vessel.
concluded to hold conference with the men.
They quietly but with a determination that could
not be misunderstood, informed him that
they would leave the vessel in u body unless he
agreed to pay them the following rates s:-$22 for
deck hands, $25 for stevedores and $50 fremen.
To this Mr.. Goodspeed demurred and informed them
he would supply their places with other men.
were about to leave the steamer. when Mr.. Good
speed yielded After the departure of the vessel he
advertised i'll the local papers for 2U0 abe-bodied
men.
SECOND VICTORY
1t is needless to state that the their down.
ward trip were highly elated ut their victory and
when they arrived ut their wharf. pier No. ~ East
River, the news was soon communicated to the EN-
ployes on the New Haven steamer and the example
followed by them with equal The
steamer c. H. Northam was lying at the New Haven
pier when the employees insisted receiving in
Their demands were promptly complied with.
POORLY FED DECK HANDS,
Many OF employees or the steamer SeaWannak3
have lett that vessel account OF the miserable
quality of the food doled out to them. ut is bad
enough" said Of these men to HERALD
porter. o be poorly paid but to be half starved is
worst of all" The employees on the Bridgeport line
had not struck up to yesterday afternoon, but one
of the engaged at the wharf pier 35 stated that
o. the success OF the employees the other
lines had been announced they would make . similar
demand. The truck drivers on the lines greatly
dissatisfied, aud u movement on their part il immi-
nent. One OF them. who is attached to the Hartford
line, said they 'the hardest worked and poorest
paid lot OF men along the river" The drivers of
double trucks receive $11 IS week and Of single
trucks $40 so. 1--WE have to work, he said. 'from
past o'clock in the morning till any hour
you please during the nght and it is hard tor men
to stand that. We would not mind it though. only
that when business IL slack they let go altogether
aud throw us on to shift Tor ourselves. am glad
the this time on the boats. They play
ing Goodspccd's own game. He always takes advan-
tage OF his men in the bad times and they strike
back when they get the chance He is now paid in
mis- own CON-"
sUCCEEDKD.
The number OF men affected by the reduction is
seventy eight, divided among deckhands. stevedores.
hrcmen and greasers. Mr.. Saxton. agent OF the
Hartford Steamship Company. declined 10 saw anv-
hing the matter further than "Mr Goodspeed
understands this business and NO will deal with it
promptly III his own way. have nothing to do
with it," The ut the wharf were jublant i'll the
extreme.