New-York tribune., 1901-05-27
INDORSES TUNNEL STRIKE.
G. F. u HAS STORMY MEETING AND
RAISES A NEW ISSUE.
LEADERS PURPOSE TO STOP ALL WORK IF
OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS FAIL TO
PAY SUBWAY WAGES.

OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS FAIL TO
PAY SUBWAY WAGES
The Central Federated Union yesterday after
noon took the stand that ii will stop work on
the rapid transit tunnel. if it can. in order to
force contractors who have nothing whatever
to do with the construction of the subway to
pay the wages received by tunnel workmen. The
organization ndorsed the strike commended the
action of the walking delegates who ordered it,
and insisted that an addition. demanding that
outside contractors pay tunnel wages. be made
to the agreement which is to he submitted to
the contractors to-day. If this is not agreed to
the purpose is to call out every union man work
ing on the tunnel, and thus entirely stop opera
tions. Even the digging and carting of dirt will
cease if the strike leaders fulfil their threat of
what will happen If the contractors do not ac-
cept the terms offered
In addition the strike indorsed in the face
of the fact that the union indorsed and approved
an agreement which has been submitted to the
sub-contractors providing that all questions of
wages hours ETC. shall be decided by arbitra-
ton.
The meeting was held in the University Settle
ment Building Rivington and Eldridge SIS
Just prior to the consideration of the strike
Naughton & Co. sub-contractors on the tunnel
came in for considerable criticism. Thls nrIn
was alleged to have contract in Second-aVe''
from Fitty-eighth-st to Eighty-eighth-st-' ana
to have in it's employ. or connected with IT, Al
derman Mccall of the XXXIIId Assembly Dis
trict. 1t alleged that the alderman was
not complying with the regulations of the
unions, and a vote of censure was taken against
him as an employer of cheap. scab labor.
Delegate Mcconnell stated that the principal
grievance of his men consisted of their being
worked eight and one-half and nine hours a
day. while they received pay for only eight
hours.
President Tim" Healy OF the fremen's
union protested against the strike in a fiery
speech, alleging that it had been ordered by
the walking delegates without any consultation
with the officers Of the unions interested.
The report of the committee deputized to draw
up an agreement to he submitted to the con-
tractors at conference to-day was practically
the agreement presented to the sub-contractors
last Monday. which provided that all men en-
ployed in rapid transit work who were members
OF any organization affiliated with the Central
Federated Union should have the right TO sub
nit any grievance they had 10 the union to
which they belonged. and If the majority OF the
union decided that their grievance was just it
should be submitted the sub-contractors as
sociation. a committee selected by the labor
interests involved and the sub-contractors in
terested to have full power settle the
matters in dispute.
1t is stipulated also that in the event Of the
failure of the properly appointed persons to
agree the matter in dispute should be referred
to disinterested party for arbitration. and
each side bound itself to stand by his decision
A further feature of the agreement was that
strike or lockout suspension of work was
TO he caused by either side account OF any
grievance connected with work on the rapid
transit subway. All disputes to be settled
peacefully in conference. in the case of a
failure by this method they We're be settled
by arbitration. The wages to be paid were to
be in accordance with the rules laid down by the
committee of the Central Federated Union. as
the representatives of the various trades repre-
sented by them Eight hours were to constitute
days work.
This report was accepted but the discussion
Of ii led TO such a wrangle that a motion that
delegates employed tunnel work retire and
have il out with the committee in another room
was carried but the wrangling began again.
Delegate Weinseimer began to defend the
strike and abuse the committee when President
Fitzgerald interrupted with his gavel
Get out of here. all of your he shouted
You have been ordered 10 retire. and have no
business here. Let get on with our other
business"
In about an hour the tunnel delegates anu the
committee returned, and it reported that
the delegates had insisted that a clause be
added to the agreement providing that the
holsters receive 50 so day, and that all the
contractors who had work outside of the tunnel
be compelled TO pay the same wages as those
which prevailed tunnel work.
This was bitterly opposed by the members OF
the committee. who said that if insisted upon
it would nuIlify all their work. the contractors
would never agree to it.
Imagine the entire tunnel work tied up,
O'Brien said. because of a wage dispute on some
little picayune job up in Albany or Cohoes. We
are legislating for the tunnel now, and let us
confine ourselves to that"
The adoption OF the resolution indorsng the
strike is understood in labor circles to mean that
all union men employed on the work may be
called out to-day. as well all men employed
by the sub-contractoIs outside work This
will stop all work on the subway for time. at
least for If the teamsters called out the
latoIers who are unorganiZed. cannot work.
The result of the meeting was a complete vic
tory for Mcmahon of the Eccentric Engineers
Association over PaIlas president of the Cen
trail Federated Union. The latter has been for
a peaceful solution of the difficulty, and his ef-
forts failed.
THE GRANT AFLOAT.