New-York tribune., 1901-05-29
TUNNEL STRIKE NEAR END.
MEN LIKELY TO RETURN TO WORK THIS
MORNING ON BASIS OF CONTRAC-
TORS COUNTER PROPOSITION.

The end of the strike on the rapid transit
tunnel was believed TO be in sight last night
John ]. Pallas. the president Of the Central
Federated Union, had talk with John B. Nc
Donald. the chief contractor for the tunnel
yesterday afternoon, and told him he thought
the strikers would return to work this morning
Mr. Paras told me-" Mr. Mcdonald said,
that he thought the men would be willing TO
go tn work tomorrow morning on the basis OF
the counter proposition made by the contractors
committee yesterday afternoon"
The counter proposition that the con-
tractors would take into consideration the de-
mand to have the wages of holsters raised from
50 - TO 81 20 day. 1t was stated by the rep
resentatives of the Central Federated Union at
the conference on Monday that holsters on jobs
outside the tunnel " re receiving 81 90 and the
contractors replied that if such the case
the demand for the same pay for the holsters
employed on tunnel work would he granted. At
the same time the representatives of the union
wanted the contractors TO agree to give TO all
workmen employed on outside work the same
pay as that received by workmen in the tunnel
The contractors would not agree TO that de-
mand. The contractors expressed willingness
10 recognize the union in all branches of tun-
mel work. and that concession regarded by
the men yesterday as something of victory for
them. The contractors say. however. that the
concession does not mean much for at time
has there been any fight against union labor.
A few firms have made a practice OF employing
anybody they wished TO, union men others.
but at no time has union labor been discrimi-
mated against. The only feature of the leniency
is that the sub-contraCtors have now stated
openly that they viii allow their men 10 be
ganized They had not refused to them this
right before the strike
N the real iSSue in strike Mr. Mel
says. the contractors have conceded nothing.
The men struck with the obvious purpose of
forcing some of the tunnel contractors who are
doing outside work where they are not paying
union wages or adhering to the eight hour sys-
tenn as they are forced to do under the law on
the tunnel work. To accord 10 their outside men
the same conditions as prevail in the tunnel
In the proposition made by the contractors this
issue is entirely eliminated. and if the men so
TO work this morning they will do so without
having gained anything in this the prin-
cipal point at issue.
We have made no concessions. said Mr..
Mcdonald 'aud the strikers have not gained
single point or obtained any concession that they
could not have obtained without resOrting 10
strike. The situation is exactly the same as be-
fore the strike.
IF the men go to work to-mOrrow-and, of
course. cannot say for certain that they will
we will consider the demand of the holsters,
provided the men can show 10 our satisfaction
that outside contractors are paying their hoist
erS the higher rate. The matter Will then be
referred TO arbitrat ton. in accordance with the
agreement existing between the Contractors As
ISOLATION and the Central Federated Union"
Mr.. Pallas was seen last evening and asked If
he had promised that the men would go to
work to-day, but he refused TO make any state
ment
The strike did not prevent many men from
Norking in the tunnel yesterday. All day long
and late last night the work was being pushed
by hundreds of men. and any one not familiar
with the work would not have guessed that there
was a strike in progress. The number of work
ers seemed to have a dispiriting effect on the
strikers. many of whom complained that they
could not why they should be on strike in
order force a settlement of outside troubles.
The strike leaders held secret meeting last
night at No. 91 Centre-st. at which John j.
Pallas. of the Central Federated Union COM
mittee. made a report of his conference with Mr..
Mcdonald There We're present at the confer
ence Delegates Mcmahon. of the Amalsamated
Eccentric and Standard Engineers; Gleason, or
the Pipe Caulkers and Tappers' Union; Kelly, OF
the Hosting Engineers Union; Green. OF the
Rock Drillers and Tool Sharpeners' Union, and
McConville. of the Safety Engineers Union The
conference lasted for two hours. 1t ended in a
unanimous decision to sign agreement en-
bodying the new propositions of the strike lead
ers, provided the sub-contractOrs do the same.
the strike leaders having power to act for the
tunnel workers. AS the propositions are practi
cally the same as those submitted by the com
mittee of sub-contraCtors on Monday. IL is
garded as settled that the contractors will sign
the agreement Mr.. Pallas refused TO talk on
the subject after the conference was over.