The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-08
STRIKEOF 1000
HALTS EXPRESS
| BUSINESS HERE
Drivers, Mechanics and
Others Oppose Wage Award
by U. s. Government.
QUIT UNION; JOIN A. F. L.
Longshoremen Threaten to
Ignore Shipments if Strike
breakers Are Employed.

The biggest express strike New York
has known since the ruction of 1910,
which lasted three weeks and was full
of violence, started yesterday with so
little preparation that few persons knew
anything was amiss. About 1000 men
ouit-drivers of motor and horse ex-
press wagons. their helpers, mechanics
who tend the motor trucks in the stables
and shops, and some platform workers,
who handle the goods at terminals and
branch offices.
On Sunday night they smashed their
own union. the Brotherhood OF American
Railroad Express Company Employees,
and at the same time voted to join the
American Federation of Labor as part
OF the International Transfers Union
and to go on strike. This action was
taken SO suddenly by the Manhattan and
Bronx employees that the Brooklyn and
Queens men did not have time to ar
range a meeting until one was set for
To-Day. Few OF them went to work yes
terday. however. Employees In northern
New Jersey have also jumped the reser-
walton.
Tho strike Is directed against the
Government represented by the Ameri-
can Railway Express Company, the mer-
ger of the American, Adams, Wells
Fargo and Southern Express companies
FORMED last year under the direction of
Director-G General McAdoo of the Rail
road Administration. It was admitted
at the company's offices in the Grand
Central Terminal yesterday that no
packages were being received or deliv-
cred at branch offices. II a shipper
wanted to take his parcels or boxes to
a terminal he could do It and take a
chance on its being shipped
Deliveries Virtually Stop.
Deliveries virtually stopped altogether
The union leaders said that the tieup is
complete.
Labor men said last night that the
1ongshoremen would refuse to handle ex-
press matter in case strike breakers
were employed. Twenty thousand mem
bers OF eighteen longshoremen's locals
were represented as having deserted
President O'Connor of the International
Jongshoremen's Union and acknowledged
as their leader the less conservative
Paul Vacarelli. William Karlin. talking
TO the express strikers yesterday in tie
Amsterdam Opera House in West For
ty-fourth street. said he had been told
that organized labor generally would
aid them.
Robert E. NJ Cowie, a vice-president
~f the American Railway Express Com
pany. said in formal statement:
The strike of the vehicle men and
garage men has been brought about ow-
ing to dissatisfaction with some OF the
pi DIVISIONS Of the recent wage award Is
sued by the Wage Board OF the United
States Railroad Administration, effec-
tive May /.
1.-THE wage award is fiat increase
= rnonth-hIlilt nnnn-the-salar2-
of January !, 1918, the increase to date
back to January l. 1919; also the eight
hour day with pro rata time for two
hours beyond the eight hours and timo
and a half over ten hours.
The men demand. in addition. over
time at the rate OF time and a half and
double for Sundays and holidays. They
also demand one weeks summer vaca-
ton a year with pay.
The difference will be referred to the
Director of the Division OF Labor OF
the United States Railroad Administra-
ton at Washington, Is provided for in
the wage award order
Formed n Union in 1911.
After the strike Of 1910, which ended
IN compromise, ana another strlKe IN
1911. which was a failure. the companies
brought about the formation OF
"union" comprising only their own en-
ployees. When the Government COM
bined the companies under its control
this union changed its name to the
Brotherhood OF American Railroad Ex-
press Employees. 1t has rooms in Mad
tson Square Garden known as "the club"
A. Y. Julian of the companys vehicle
service and ]. r. Christie. general man
ager. met the employees at the club" on
Tuesday night to discuss grievances.
The principal one seemed to be that the
Government. after sending about fifty
employees away on their summer vaca-
rions with pay. had suddenly informed
the men that the whole vacation sched-
ule had been cancelled.
They also talked holly about the wage
award. and 1t developed that many had
accepted 1t in the belief that It added 325
n month to their envelopes beginning
January this year. instead OF last
year. since which latter date other in
creases have been made which are In
cluded in the s25. They said also that
they had been compelled to work eleven
hours a day at the regular rate before
receiving overtime pay.
About 5000 OF the workers were en-
rolled in organized labor In the Central
opera House yesterday afternoon and
will meet there again at p. NJ. to-day
10 ratify demands upon the express COM
pany drawn up last night by the execu-
tive committee at S71 Eighth avenue,
headquarters OF Local Gao OF the team
sters' union.
The men went on strike without hav-
ing made any formal demands. the union
leaders explaining that they were so
irritated the lid blew on at the Mad
ison Square Garden meeting on Tuesday
night.
Recognition OF the American Fedora
tion Of Labor will be first among the de-
mands. besides a weeks vacation with
full pay.
Express chauffeurs now get $3.50 a
month. or $3.50 week, and drivers
OF horse drawn vehicles range from $50
to 1920 a month.