The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-05
B. R. T. REJECTS
UNION DEMAND;
STRIKE LIMITED
Receiver. Garrison Willing
to Confer Only With En-
ployees' Committee.
LABOR MEN MEET TO-DAY
"Reply Inadequate" Is First
Comment Of Railway Mems
Official Heads.

Possibilities Of a strike on the Brook
lyn Rapid Transit suddenly doomed up
yesterday when Lindley NJ Garrison. re-
eeiver for the system. notified the union
sf street car employees that he would
not deal with the organization. The
leaders gathered together last night at
ply to Mr.. Garrison. They postponed
action because only eleven OF the TWEEN
ty-two members OF the executive COM
mittee were at hand, but they made 1t
clear that there was no division Of opin-
ion that Mr.. GarrIson's reply was en-
tlrely unsatisfactory to them: There will
be meeting OF the full committee to-
day, at which the unions reply will be
drafted.
Patrick J. O'Brien, ice-president OF
the Amalgamated Association of street
and Electric Railway Employees of
America. who lie leading the negotiations.
refused to discuss the possibility OF a
strike. He SHE'D every time the word
strike was used. but the feeling was
IN the air at union headquarters Just the
same. even il nobody would be quoted.
Mr.. O'Brien said ..
Mr.. Garrison's letter is inadequate.
II does not meet our demands. We are
organized up to IS per cent. OF all the
B. r. T. employees
What Mr. o'Brien meant by that was
that in dealing with his union Mr.. Gar
r'son would in effect be dealing with all
the B. r. T. employees; that the dis
thction which the receiver had attempt
&C to draw did not exist.
Mr.. Garrison had stated in his letter
That he would not enter into any nego-
tstion or even discuss matters involving
the employees with any committee or
Individual not selected by direct vote Of
the employees themselves. He IL ready
and willing, he said to deal with any
employees committee. The receiver
letter was made public after he had con-
suited for several hours with former Of
hoisls OF the B. r T., among them Tim
othy S. Williams. former president OF
the company; Frederick P. Royce, the
new general manager selected by the
receiver; John J. Dempsey, vice-preai-
dent: w. Siebert superintendent Of sur
face lines; c. L. Crabbs. equipment en-
gineer; W. G. Cove. equipment superin-
teHdent; L. Van Colt. purchasing agent,
and G. d. Meneely. treasurer.
The demands Of the union as they
were presented to Mr.. Garrison on
March 20 included: Recognition Of the
union. so cents an hour for platform
men and nine hour day, so cents an
hour for a nine hour swing run during
rush hours. SO cents an hour for black
nniths and structural workers. IS cents
an hour for shopmen and an eight hour
day. and time and half for overtIne
Letter Delivered to o'Brien.
Copies OF Mr.. Garrison's letter we're
delivered last night to Patrick ]. O'Brien,
first vice president of the Amalgamated
Association Of Street and Electric Rail.
way Employees of America, at the Con-
tinental Hotel. Broadway and Forty
first street. Mr.. O'Brien and his asso-
ciates Immediately went into conference.
When the subject matter Of Mr.. Gar
rison's letter was known to the news
papers, but before copies had been re-
ceived by him, Mr.. O'Brien was asked
whether a general strike might result
from the failure Of the b. r. T. receiver
10 recognize the railway mems union.
OBrien's answer was that nothing
could be said until Mr.. Gsrrison's letter
had been received and a course OF action
decided upon by the executive committee
of the union.
Mr.. Garrison's letter declining recogni-
tlon OF any committee not representing
the employees follows in part:
II the intention is to have the company
enter into an agreement with persons
who are now or may hereafter become
members OF a particular division Of the
named association as such I would not
In any event contemplate such action
All agreements at any time made Will,
our employees should cover all OF the
men in similar employment, whether
they are members OF union or are not
You are. of course, aware, as are all
the employees Of the system, of the at
titude Of the receiver in respect OF the
subject matter
Thereafter Mr.. Garrison cites two
recommendations OF the National War
Labor Board and notice TO all en-
ployees of the company Issued on March
II. which was as follows:
"In so far as the present management,
is concerned these two recommendation
of the National War Labor Boa I'd
sufficiently indicate the policy being fol.
lowed and to be followed. In other
words. no attempt is made to prevent
an employee from Joining any organiza.
ton that he pleases, religious, patriotic
benevolent, political or labor union. Or
the other hand, the management of the
system will. as heretofore, deal witt
committees of its own employees in al
matters affecting the relation of its EN-.
ployees TO the system"
The two recommendations of the. Ma
tional War Labor Board above referred
TO are also cited and are as follows:
That the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company and its subsidiary companie,
operating street railway lines in New
York city give full and free permission
10 all its employees to organize labo,
unions in conformity with the announced
principles of this board and as a matter
OF plain right and Justice.
"Under our principles the company
not being bound otherwise by any con
tract or agreement with the union. ma,
refuse to see and deal with any commit
tee but one OF its own. employees"
VIII Meet Employees Only.
Mr.. Garrisons letter concluded:
IF. therefore. the employees of tn,
system In any OF its branches have an,
grievances which they desire 10 hav
taken up for consideration. or any re
quests In respect OF the conduct or III
company toward them or In respect o
their employment. shall be very plea Sc,
20 have them formulate whatever the,
desire me to consider. and at tim
mutually agreeable I shall be glad,
necessary, TO meet a committee OF IN
employees designated to represent sue
employees In respect OF the subject mat
tcr.
~ am sure that YOU will appreciat
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