New-York tribune., 1911-02-28
THREATEN GENERAL STRIKE
Grocery Drivers Declare Bosses
Must Grant Demands To-day.
DECLINE PEACE PROPOSAL
Employers Issue Statement in
Own Defence and Say All
Wagons Are in Use.

Unless the three firms OF wholesale
grocers whose drivers are on strike agree
TO grant the demands OF the strikers for
/ SIG and sli a week fo- two-horse and one
| horse wagon drivers. respectively. at a
conference with committee representing
the strikers this afternoon. a general strike
| of eight hundred grocery wagon drivers
will be called. This utimatum was decided
I on last evening al a meeting OF Local A0
Of the International Brotherhood OF Team
sters. in Chelsea Hall. No. l6l Eighth ave-
nue.. \ proposition that II the men re-
turned to work at p. m. to-day the en-
1 ployers would be willing TO make a two
years agreement with them was also con-
sidered
The proposition OF the employers was
unanimously rejected. and committee was
appointed 10 call on the employers and pre-
sent the ultimatum. In case OF the general
strike members OF all other locals of
drivers will refuse 70 handle non-unlon
driven freight
1 On behalf OF not only the three firms
involved in the present strikes. Dut also OF
the wholesale grocers of the city general
| ly, the following statement was made yes
terday by Walter b. Timms. general man
ager for Austin. Nicnols & Co, the first
OF the firms whose drivers went out on
strike:
For a number OF years most OF the
wholesale grocery houses and a number OF
| other wholesale houses on the West Side
( of the city have had an association known
as the Merchants Protective Association
Of Greater New York. A contract was
made with the predecessors OF Local No
24J several years ago and has been re-
newed from year TO year. II expired in
January, 1911. The contract worked salts
factoriiy both 10 the employers and EN-
agreed on after several consultations with
the labor union local. and was the prevail
ing rate paid 10 truckmen in this line OF
business, aud also provided for fair and
satisfactory pay for overtime.
Local 240 was requested 10 renew
this contract at rs expira tion, and after
one conference with the committee OF the
Merchants Protective Association refused
to renew IL and presented a contract con-
! tanning new and radical features including
an increase in wages Of 81 week That
contract was still under discussion when,
without previous notice or further consul
! tation with the members Of the Merchants
! Protective Association, the drivers for
/ Austin. Nichols & Co. were called out By
the business agent Of Local 30 on Febru-
airy q.
The strongest truckmen's union on the
/ West Side Of New York Is Local H9. This
/ local signed a contract with the Mer
/ chants Protective Association at the same
/ rate Of wages called for by the contract
with No. 240 and With all the conditions ir
| the contrac. which were presented 20 Loca
! 240. This contract was made for period
/ Of FIVE wears. and was accepted with entire
| satisfaction by the head VI Local 40 anc
J its members. Believing that such con
/ tract. satisfactory to the largest and mos
/ influential truckmen's labor union, would
| be satisfactory 20 No. 20. with much
smaller membership, the Merchants Pro
tectivc Association has agreed 10 sign tina
| contract with Local 90 Thus far tha
/ local. through its representatives, has re
/ fused to sien this contract
/ The prevailing rate OF wages for trucl
! drivers IN the wholesale grocery trade
| yields the drivers better and more salts
/ factory income than many other branches
/ Of business EMPLOYING truckmeu, becaus
! Of tho steady work. q majority OF them be
1 ing employed during the entire year an'
/ merit being recognized in old and faithful
] emooves The houses against which th
strike has been callcd-Austin. Nichols 4
! Co. F. II. Iegzett * Go. and Clark, Chapir
/ &, Bushneil-are now conducting their bust
ness in . manner entirely satisfactory t.
/ themselves filling all their orders. with
I full complement Of drivers. truck anC
! horses
II was stated that the places Of the mel
who struck on the automobile wagons o
( these firms have been fllej by men Will
! cbauffeurs licenses