Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-15

should be borne in mind that the strike breakers from New York were places to spend the summer months in all New England. It would be for the general good of all if the relations between Messrs. Waller and Mahan were just as they seemed to be at the beach entertainment for which these men working in unison for the general advancement there would be marked increase in the city's progressiveness. It will be a happy day for New Lon don when the mayor and the govern or shake hands over the chasm.
 There was a strike of Central Ver- mont freight handlers in New Lon don the present week and as was the case in the strike of dozen years ago by men in the same employ the places were supplied by negro strike breakers, This latter class did not remain long but there was a general change in the personel of those who trucked the freight on and off the boats of the Central Vermont line. These men asked for a flat rate of $12.00 a week for sixty hours work. That is twenty cents an hour. not for ten consecutive hours a day or night, but at intervals to suit the convenience of the employers.
 The men were required to be at the freight house ready for work at a specified hour and if the work was ready for the men the pay commenced. but if not the men were required to wait and without pay Just as soon as the boate was loaded and left the wharf, the men were forced to idle ness without pay, but must be in readiness to begin work upon the ar rival of the boat to be unloaded the Day to begin when the actual work was commenced. No matter how long the men are kept in readiness they were only paid for the actual time they were engaged in handling freight. As a rule the men put in ten hours time for only six hours pay and at less than twenty cents an hour They did not ask for change in condition of work but for the increase of pay for the actual time worked.
 The men engaged in the same line of work on the New London Norwich line of boats are called to work at a specified time and they receive pay for every minute while on the job, work or rest and if they are held be- yond the customary quitting time they get extra pay for the service. It does not take these men twelve hours to earn eight hours pay Hence there is more satisfaction among the freight handlers than those who were en- ployed on the Central Vermont wharf in East New London.
 The men who went out on strike are residents of New London, most of them having families to support, and rather than have those depending up- on them to become charges upon the town, made earnest plea to be per- mitted to return to work upon the terms of the railroad company. but they were rejected. It is given out that the officials have determined to continue the service of the negro freight handlers indefinitely and that there would be no work for the form CT workers on the Central Vermont pier or freight house. The company is planning to colonize the negroes on the company property and are now having erected shacks for their ac- commodation. If the railroad com pany insists, these negroes from New York will tire of the solitude of life on the Long dock and will branch out in other sections of the city, and the chances are ten to one that the ma jority of them will not prove to be the best class of law abiding citizens.
 When the strike of the freight hand lers of this company was on several years ago a committee of citizens had hearing with the highest officials of the company, although the conditions were much different, as the strikers then were inclined to hold out fol full demand while the men are an xlous and willing to return to work at the company's terms
 This is matter that is worthy the attention of the active New Londor Business Mems association and is o1