New-York tribune., 1901-05-24
STRIKES ON TUNNEL WORK.
ENGINEERS AND OTHERS SAY CON
TRACTORS HAVE FAILED To KEEP
PROMISE TO ADVANCE WAGES.

Extensive strikes have been begun on the
rapid transit tunnel work by the engineers. rock
drillers. tool sharpeners and pipe caulkers. to
compel the sub-cOntraCtors to pay increased
wages. Walking Delegates James Green. of the
rock driers' union: Patrick McMahOn. of the
engineers union; Matthew McConviIle. of the
floating engineers: Charles Kelly. Of the hoist
ing engineers. and John Ahearn. Of the tool
sharpeners, started out yesterday morning TO
serve an ultimatum on the contractors.
They said that notice of the proposed advance
in wages had been served on the contractors
year ago. and that they had then agreed to pay
it after May l. but that when the time came
they failed to make good their promise Only
l. B. McCabe & Bro, who are building the
tunnel from hundred and -forty-seventh-st-
to One-hundred and eighty ffth-st.. in Broad
way, and Cavanagh & Co. who working in
Broadway from One-hundred- d-and-twenty-fft
st to One-hundred -and-fOrty- -seventh-st, have
granted the demands.
Strikes were ordered yesterday on the work
of Degnon & Mclean. in Forty -second-st. and
at the City Hall loop; John Shaler. in Park-ave.
from Thirty -fourth-st. to Forty-second-st.. and
Naughton & Co. in Broadway from Forty-sev-
enth-st. TO Sixtieth-st In all about thou
sand men quit work, and it is expected that the
entire tunnel work. employing about five thou
sand men. will be tied up to-day.
The demands of the men for the follow
ing wages which are an advance of about 80
cents day: Pipe caulkers SIS day; double
drum hoisting engineers, 81 80; rock driners.
81 10 and safety engineers. $3 80
The strike is the elimination of trouble which
has been brewing long time \ committee of
the Central Federated Union, consisting of Will
lam J. O'Brien John J. Pal1as and Edward Fri
day has been in conference with the contractors
for several weeks and il thought by both
sides that a satisfactory arrangement had been
reached. The strike takes place right in the
middle of these negotiations and in defiance OF
the Central Unions committee. Some of the sub
contractors said yesterday that the strike was
caused by sympathy with men on their outside
contracts who are getting lower wages and
working longer hours than the men on the tun-
mel The tunnel men, while demanding higher
wages are receiving the union rate and are
working eight hours.
As soon he learned of the strike John IS
Mcdonald. the general contractor, called
meeting of the sub-Contractors in the Office or
the Rapid Transit Construction Company in the
Park Row Building AT the close of the meet
ing Mr. Mcdonald issued the following state
ment:
meeting of the contractors OF The g2Pid transit f6
discuss Lha STRIKE @ @Pe,IS on on I'M 'increas@d wages or
on the work or by the officers representing ne
Central Federated Union, We are now worklhs
eight hours and paying the union rate or wages
Pending negotiations with committee OF lIe tI
trail Federated Union on some minor matters anu
also agreement between this Comlnlt!te anu a. q
comrnittee of thr contractors of the rapid transit
railroad. that all disputes on either Sde ShGuIu
settled by conference, or IN the event or 1alur
agree by Arbitration. this strike was preclllle'
hv outside influence. eNerted with a View OF
forcing 4 settlement of difficulties which neither
had their origin nor existence on the rapid transit
work
A meeting of the executive committee of the
engineers and rock drillers organizations was
held last evening at No Is DOwning-St. Prep
arations were made for making the strike gen
eral to-day.
Police Commissioner Murphy issued an order
last night TO the captains of all precincts IN
which tunnel opera tionS are under way, To he
prepared for any trouble that may come this
morning. Any disposition on the part OF strikers
10 interfere with men at work, or men that want
to go to work. is TO be closely watched, ana dlS-
order is to he suppressed at the outset