The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-26

STRIKE LEAVES
ROAD CRIPPLED
More Than Hundred
Workers Called
from Cars
Three Equipment Trains Lie
Idle Here Pending Sci
tIement

A strike of more than passing inter
est to Bridgeport had it's denoument
here, this morning, when over 100 ex-
pert linemen, sub -forernen and fore
men employed in the identification of
the New Haven lines between Stadn-
ford and Bridgeport were suddenly
called out at the Union street yards
Of the railroad as they were about
to board trains to take them to work.
Not only may the electrification of
the system be indefinitely postponed
during the summer, but traffic be-
tween Stamford and New York is Sc
riolHsly Threatened, in an interview
with a Farmer reporter authorized bJ
the general foreman of cons trJIctiOn,
E. H. German, it was said that but
eight men remain at work upon the
entire line to repair any damage to
overhead wires on the operating Sys-
tenn between Stamford and New York.
These men are likely to be called out
at any moment in sympathy with
those already on strike.
Three large trains used in the cleo
trifica ton are now stored in the local
yards, and a general clean up Of the
loose wires and unfinished work along
the line is being undertaken today up
on orders from New Haven instruct
ing those in charge of the electrifica-
ton to expect a prolonged struggle
between company and men.
The strike does not as yet have the
sanction of unionism, although many
union men are numbered in the ranks
of those walking out. 1t would ap
pear that had the negotiations have
been managed by experienced labor
union heads, the present crisis would
not have been reached, and the rail-
road officials themselves tacitly de-
plore the fact that many of the ;nen
are not subject to union rules.
According to men interviewed in the
ranks today it would appear as if the
strike here was more in symp mpathy
with the Stamford and Woodlawn di-
visions than through any grievance
which had been fostered in this vicin-
ity None could be found in Bridge
port today representing the men called
out here, all leaders having gone to
Stamford for consultation as to the
situation.
At the offices of the New Haven
road, E. H. German, general foreman
of Electrification, authorized the fol-
lowing statements: This controversy
began about March 10 when q. lengthy
petition demanding an increase in the
schedule paid the groundmen, line
men, sub-foremen and foremen on this
division, the Stamford division Crom
Stamford to New York; The New
York Westchester & Boston and the
Stamford and Woodlawn Division was
submitted to the company. No in
timation was given that it was to
be an ultimatum and that a walk
out would follow. It merely demand
ed that an answer be returned through
the general foremen which on this
division is myself and on the Stam-
ford division is Barney Mack.
1.-The existing scale of wages has
heretofore been on the Stamford di-
vision: Helpers 50 per day; ground
men $3.50; 1inemen So; sub-foremen
So so; foremen "a; on the Bridgeport
division, groundmen 81; linennen So;
sub-foremen So. so and foremen 81. The
visions the scale be helpers and
groundmen $3.50; linemen 81, sub-fore-
men $3.50 and foremen So.
1T was decided in the New Haven
offices that the demands could not be
| acceded to, but that a concession
would be made permitting payment
for time lost trains to and from
work Time of leaving Bridgeport or
other cities and returning to Bridge
port from the work to be included
in the working day. This was a con-
cession to the Stamford division, as
it had already been in force on the
Bridgeport section.
The decision of the company was
transmitted to the men on March II
and a meeting was held in Stamford
1t would appear that the terms were
sa satisfactory as on the 18th the men
in Bridgeport reported for work but
were suddenly called out again at
noon and returned to Bridgeport
The strike was found to be general
along the lines, IS men of the 100 en-
ployed here demanding their pay en-
veIopes. On the Harlem branch 12O
men were recorded on strike, 20 on
the New York and Westchester, and 40
on the Stamford and Woodlawn. 9th
ers while not asking for final payment