New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-13
1000 More Men to Join
Walk-out To-day to
Force Issue
Army Base Affected
Union Workers Will Quit at
Ouartermaster's Terminal;
May Involve N. Y.

Six thousand men employed on
shipyards and war supply bases at
Newark for the United States govern
ment struck yesterday because one
company that has a government con-
tract would not employ union men and
according TO labor leaders, refused 70
pay union wages or meet other condi-
tions.
Between 1000 and 5000 more men,
who did not receive the strike ORDER
Yesterday. will quit to-day unless
there is a change in the plans OF the
business agents of the Newark Build
ing Trades Council, who are said TO be
preparing to spread the strike to the
jurisdiction Of the New York Building
Trades Council and tie up all govern
ment construction work. In that event
more than 10000 men would be al
fected.
The Lackawanna Bridge Company,
which the labor leaders blame for the
trouble, will not suffer, as there are
no union men among its 1,lOO en-
poyes. By calling a general strike on
government work the building trades
unions hope TO force a settlement.
Mediators' Efforts Fail
The strike of yesterday has been
threatened for six weeks. The gov
ernmeLt made efforts to avert 1t, but
the mediators labored in vain to bring
the men and company officials together.
From week to week the business agents
postponed the strike. until it began to
be treated as a Joke. Bat yesterday
twenty-one of the twenty-three busl-
ness agents of the Building Trades
Council of Newark met and voted
unanimously to order a strike on all
government construction in Newark
and nearby points.
They went first to the plant OF the
Federal Shipbuildng Company on the
Hackensack River. In fifteen minutes
company officials were surprised to see
workmen marching from all parts OF
the yards toward the gate. or the
$500 employees only 500 remained at
work. and these were non-union la
bOrers.
From the Federal company the agents
went TO the yards of the Foundation
Company, on the adjoining tract. front
ing the Passaic River. Like the Federal,
the Foundation Company has contracts
to build wooden ships. Both companies
are building plants.
Officials of the Foundation Company
had witnessed he stream OF men pour
ing from the gates of the Federal COM
pany, and, suspecting the purpose OF
the business agents visit, refused ad
mittance. The union officials got word
to the men, however. and the strike
order quickly spread.
The business agents hurried half
mile further west, 10 where Snare
Triest, of New York, are building six
storage warehouses for the United
States Engineers. Here also the men
quit work.
To Halt Work on Big Base
Fifteen hundred men left the Foun-
dation Company shipyards and 1900
more the Snare e. Triest job.
To-day about 5000 more will quit at
Port Newark Terminal, where work is
lust starting on twelve mammoth con-
crete warehouses and scores of ether
buildings, docks and railroad sidings
for the army Quartermaster's Depart.
ment.
These men were employed by Nc
Arthur Brothers, of New York. who
have just completed Camp Merit at
Tenaily, y. J. Between 1000 and 1900
rien will be taken from small lois in
other parts Of the state.