New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-07
POSTAL EMPLOYEES
READY FOR STRIKE
General Vote, However, Must Be
Taken Before British Service
Is Tied Up.

Leicester, Dec 6-The threatened strike
at Christmas OF the governments postal
and telegraph employees. numbering near
~ 10000 men. probably VII! be averted.
but the movement will be only postponed
as a result OF the action OF a conference,
I'm which are participating 200 delegates
representing 22.OOO members Of the various
postal organizations, who met here to-
day
The delegates adopted n resolution re-
iecting the report Of the government COM
mission favorlng a slight increase in the
salaries OF the employees. At the same
time they pledged themselves TO push
their original demand for a 10 per cent
increase Of wages throughout the service.
The strike proposal was debated at
length, and the meeting finally decided
10 leave the decision TO a general vote
OF the members OF the organizations. A
proposal that the postal organizations
should unite with the miners, the rail-
way mems and the transport workers
unions was also discussed. and met with
much favor among the delegates.
The conference decided TO oppose the
government candidates at all Parliamen-
tary elections until the demands Of the
postal employees are acceded 10. and the
delegates decided to select Jour candi-
dates TO contest several constituencies on
the platform OF improving the conditions
under which the postal employees work.
I'VE are very near parting OF the
ways" said Mr.. Mccarthy. the chairman,
In n c ~
cerely the government will not persist I'm
forcing our hands. We are going for
ward unhnchingly TO our goal. | ask you
20 weigh we'll your words and your de-
cslons, and when the time comes TO
translate those words and those decisions
into action, and TO act with swiftness
determination and courage"
There has been much agitation among
the postal employees for a general strike
at Christmas time while the postal work
Is heaviest and most important. but to-
days action OF the conference makes
necessary a general vote of the employees
on the strike question, and il Is doubtful
whether a strike can be organized in time
to become effective by Christmas time
The postal employees base their demands
for an increase of pay largely on the
argument that the postal service yields TO
the government great profits in which
the workers should have a larger share
The Postmaster General. Herbert L.
Samuel. in his last interview with the
leaders OF the postal employees organiza-
tons. threatened that If there was a
strike all the employees who quit their
work should be permanently discharged
but the men hope to be able to make
political issue of their demands and to
gain the support of the large trades
unions.
The government is making tentative ar
rangements TO enlist the services of mill
tary telegraphers To take the place of
strikers in case OF need, as the French
government did during the great railroad
strike in that country in October, 1910.
The postal employees unions are fifteen
in number and nave membership of
about $500. They comprise employees of
the postal, telegraphic and telephone SER
vices, all of which are controlled by the
government.