New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-31
SUBWAY AND T.
MEN FESTIVE
Dissatisfied with New
Agreement Sent Out
by Company.
WAGES ARE RAISED
$1,25O,0O0 A YEAR
Third Avenue Refuses In
Decentralization
Planned.

Possibility Of further difficulties be
tween the Interborough Rapid Transit
Company and its employees was limited
at Yesterday by William B. Fitzgerald,
general organizer of the Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric
Railway Employees.
IL had been thought that the right to
organize, the general increase IN the
wage scale and the other changes III
working conditions asked by 'the laDor
leaders a week ago would be readily
accepted. However, individual agree
ments sent out yesterday to INTERIOR
ough employees for signature, although
containing provisions for an increase
in wages amounting TO approximately
900 annually, offered less thah
had been demanded, and labor organ
izers were accordingly dissatisfied.
Objects on Mems Behalf.
If the men sign these agreements
according to Fitzgerald, they Will sign
away the right to organize, Tor the
contract specifically states: ine I'm
dersigned agrees TO work for the COM
pany in such positions as may De as
signed TO him from time to time (pro-
yided there shall be no reduction IN
position except for good cause)' LOT
such wages and hours and such
periods" The period referred TO 10
from August 81, 1915. to August 81
1918; the company offers nlne-hour
dav. while the employees asked for an
eight-hour day, and the wages for mo-
tormen. conductors and guards are IN
each case less than the men demanded
Fitzgerald said he had called yester-
dav on Attorney James l.. Quackenousn,
of the Interborough. No attempt ne
said. had been made to conceal the fact
that the contract was master anu
servant" agreement, nor TO hide the
fact that the contract, once signed, le-
eally bound the men for period Oh TWO
Gears. In other words, Fitzgerald eX-
plained. if the contracts were signed
and the men became dissatisfied wltnlh
two wears. they would be poweriess 10
act. cu,
Employees Meeting Called.
A meeting of Interborough employees
has been called for Friday night at
/ Lvceum Hall. 1t will be an all-nignt
session. Fitzgerald believes the situs-
ton TO be critical"
On the other hand. the working
agreement issued yesterday increases
the wages of the Interborough en-
ployes for the third time this year
: The increase will affect 1000 en-
ployes. and will amount, it is estimated,
TO sl,25O,O00 a year. An increase OF
5000. 900 annually was made IN Janu-
airy /, another of 100000 annually on
= August l. The increase announced
Yesterday brings the total increase OIL
the pay rolls of the company during
the last eight months to Sl,ioO,OOV
The agreement also reduces the work
ing day from ten hours TO nine.
Why Changes Were Made.
"The unrest that has prevailed for
the last few weeks" said Frank He'd
ley, e-president and general man
ager of the Interborough, last night
"led the management TO decide that
change in the working hours Of many
of its employees and an increase in the
rate of wages were the essential things
/ While these agreements provide for
such changes, they do not close the
door for our men TO continue TO nego-
tiate with the management for other
requests which they have made"
Mr.. Hedley also said that no press
ure would be brought upon the men to
make them sign the agreement.
New Scale of Wages.
Conductors wages are set at $3.50
day, increasing TO SO after the second
year: guards begin at $40, gradually
| Increasing until S2.75 is reached after
the third year, and motormen begin at
$3.50 a day and are increased until
they receive $3.50 after the tenth year.
/ The working day is nine hours for all
three. and overtime is to be paid at the
rate of time and half after ten hours
Of work.
Despite the fact that following a
meeting Of the board Of directors of
/ the Third Avenue Railroad Company
/ Frederick ". Whitridge, president, is
sued a statement refusing u raise the
pay of the men, labor leaders expressed
/ little anxiety over the situation. Mr.
Whitridge said he was willing to arbi-
trate the wage question if the men
were not satisfied, and organizers said
Yesterday that this would be done.