New-York tribune., 1903-06-22
ANOTHER SUBWAY STRIKE
THREATENED FOR JULY /.
G. r. y. Tired of Agreement Break
ing by Unions and Delegates.

A surprise sprung at yesterdays meeting
of the Central Federated Union by Dennis Qun-
Ian of the Pipe Caulkers and Tappers Union,
when he announced that his union had decided
to order strike on the rapid transit subway
on July / If demands of the union for an ad-
vance OF wages from So to $3 90 day were not
granted He also declared that the strike would
extend to the work Of outside contractors
throughout the city.
Quinlan is a member Of the rapid transit COM
mittee of the Central Federated Union, and as
such signed an agreement with the subway con-
tractors last week, under which the Pipe Cauk-
ers have till July 10 to establish So so day
as the prevailing rate of wages. This agree
ment provided that If Quinlan made this point
good, the advance in wages would be paid and
If not the old wages would remain.
John J. Pallas chairman of the Rapid Tran
sit Committee, criticised Quinlan for talking
strike. He said he could not understand how
Quinlan could reconcile 1t with his action in
signing agreement
This is the most foolish thing I ever heard
Of" continued Pallas. What is the use of max
ing agreements if the men who sign them are
willing to break them"
'I am speaking for my organization, not for
myself" retorted Delegate Quinlan. I'VE in
stanced four concerns which paid So 80 day,
and that did not satisfy the contractors. The
outside contractors want the rapid transit people
to stablsh a prevailing rate"
"Oh, we're tired of the pipe calkers and their
strike talk" said a delegate.
Some applause followed, and Qunan COM
planned about being interrupted. The delegate
of the Team Drivers Union, whose representa-
tive signed the agreement. then made COM
plant that the agreement not lived up to.
This brought delegate Pa1las to his feet again.
ut is impossible to bring people who have or
think they have subway grievances to the point
of specifying anything" he said. Nearly
everything I told of in the way of griev-
ances is a lie I have brought men making
complaints to contractors and they failed to
show that there any grievance. In one of
these cases the contractor told the man of a real
grievance which he had not noticed. There is
one thing-the unions are getting much higher
wages than they would have If there had been
no agreement"
James Holland, the chairman, who is on the
rapid transit committee. then said to Quinian:
why don't you show that So so day is the
prevailing rate If 1t is SOP"
TT is impossible to do It by July TO-" said
Quinlan.
"Then keep your agreement" said the chair
man.
That's right" said delegate
Ouinlan began to explain. but the chairman
cut him short saying:
you signed an agreement. and If you your
union breaks 1t you go 1t alone. I warn
you that there will be no sympathetic strike in
the subway. We mean to keep agreement -
AppIause)
Were tried of this constant talk of strike.
strike strike. said delegate.
The chairman brought down his gavel. de-
clarng all discussion the subject closed. and
then remarking:
This union will not go record as deliber-
ately violating agreement because one of its
affiliated unions chooses to do So