The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-04
ITORRINGTON SHOP
HAS BIG STRIKE;
WORKER LOSES ARM

Torrington April Between 800
and 500 employees Of the TIendey Mo-
chine Co. walked out at 1880 this
morning. The men voted at a mass
meeting last night to enforce their
demands which are for an increase of
20 per cent in wages, a 50-hour week,
time and a half for overtime and
double time for Sundays and holidays.
Just as the men were beginning to
leave the factory, an electrician,
George Wilcox, had an arm torn off
while repairing motor. His arm was
caught in the mechanism.
There was no violence incident to
the waIkout. The officials of the Dor
ough were prepared for any emer-
gency, however. They had a large
quarters ready to respond to call.
Warden Frank E. Coe was among
those who witnessed the walkout.
The men went from the factory to
the city hall where meeting was to
be held at 8 O'Clock.
/ The present trouble was precipi-
tated by the announcement by the
company on March IT that a new
schedule had been adopted to go into
/ effect May 1. The schedule provided
for 10 hours of work each of four days
| of the week, nine hours on one day
and five hours on one day The en-
ployes objected to this change in the
/
/ A meeting was held by the en-
p1oyes at which, the newly proposed
schedule was rejected and demands
| formulated for increased wages and a,
! 50-hour week. A day or two after
the meeting the company discharged
seven men who were members of the
! employees committee. "A new commit
tee was named to present the de-
/ 1na11ds which now included the REIN
/ statement of the discharged men.
4 -Four of the new committee were dis
charged before the petition could be
presented and later six more were
4 sdischarged. The petition was finally
4 presented to the company by J, E.
Anderson, of Washington. D. c., vice
president of the Machinists union,
and r! L. Hall and William Larkin
i last Friday. The petition was not
granted.
A meeting of the nachinists' union
was held Saturday to discuss the mat
4 ter. At the meeting of the strikers
this morning, pickets were appointed
! 1t was stated by leaders after the
meeting that no effort would be made
by the strikersS committee to see the
offcials of the company. The com
/ nittee will wait for the company to
act In addition to the original de-
1nands it is said this morning the
ii company has also been asked to rec.
fognize a grievance committee
One of the leaders estimated thai
about 500 men were out. The foun-
dry employees did not strike.
} Meetings last night of employees
J of the Excelsior Needle Co., Progress
ii i've Manufacturing Co. and Standard
Co to consider new working SEIZED
: ule was said this morning to be entire.
lily independent of the Hendey EN-.
p1oyes' action. These three concerns
are a part of the Torrington Co.
q No statement was made by the Hen
! dey Machine Co. today except tina,
4 about 500 men, including all the foun
dry employees, we're at work and tina
) the total number on strike was 315 o1
1915. The plant it was stated, wa.
in full operation and the COMPANY
officials evidently expected it to con
tinue in operation without interruption
although no statement was made t.
that effect directly. In reply to
request for 8. further statement thu
official interviewed said he had moth
ing to say.