The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-30
10000 WILL STRIKE
IN TORONTO TO-DAY
Workers Decide to Walk Out
in Sympathy With Metal
Tradesmen.

TORONTO, May ga general strike OF
10000 workers in this city will be called
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock follow
ing the failure to-day OF a conference
between employers and employees with
tho Government The strike will be
called in sympathy with the metal work
era, who have declined to arbitrate with
their employers the question of n forty
four hour week. Instructions for the
strike were isseud late tonight and sent
to all union leaders
The men asked for the forty-four hour
concession on the ground that It would
distribute work more uniformly, thus
preventing unemployment, and that It
would bring about better working condl-
TORS. The employers rejected II on the
ground that Il would subject them to I'M
fair competition from industries In coun-
tries where the forty-four hour week did
not prevail.
The Government, which pointed out
that 1t had no power to legislate In re-
spect to working hours, as that question
was concerned with contracts and civil
rights, which the British North America
act confided to the provinces. suggested
a board of arbitration to decide upon
what should constitute fair working
week, the men to remain in their posi-
lions until the report was made. The
employers consented to this, but the la
Dor representatives declared that they
had no authority to depart from their
instructions, which were to accept no
compromise short OF complete accept
ance OF their demands.
Unions with a membership OF ap-
proximately $4,000 voted Monday night
in favor of a general strike. leaving
about 5000 other trades unionists still
to be heard from. The latter included
street railway employees, printers, tele-
graphers, letter carriers. railway
brotherhoods in the Toronto terminals
and BARRIERS
Among the stronger unions which have
arrayed themselves in favor OF q strike
are the Amalgamated Garment Workers.
with a membership of 1000. Interna-
tional Garment Workers 1900. Brother
hood of Carpenters 1900. and Metal
Trade Workers 5000. OF the last group
approximately 5000 are now on strike
WINNIPEG, Man, May 29.-The city
government OF Winnipeg to-day took as-
gressive steps to end sympathetic strikes
OF public utility and service employees.
when the Police Commission ruled that
every man wishing to remain in the en-
ploy OF the city must sign an oath agreeA
ing not to Join any sympathetic strike
movement in the future.
Officials announced that a large mum.
Der OF the regular police force had signed
and that many applicants. including
number of discharged soldiers. would
be added to the force.
Officials of three large iron works no.
titled Mayor Charles F. Gray and Pre-
mier Norris that they would accept off,
cials OF the Canadian brotherhoods as
mediators in a discussion of labor prob
lens with their employees. Thus far,
leaders OF the central strike committed
have refused to consider any concilla.
ton conference between the iron work.
executives and the employees. No an.
nouncement has been made by union
leaders on the new plan.
Members of the citizens COMMITTEES
were planning to-day for a general
cleanup OF the city tomorrow. Business
men announced they would aid in tho
actual work of clearing all streets and
alleys of garbage and refuse and that
they were ready TO man street carj
whenever the city decides TO begin opera
tons. Mayor Gray to-day said that city
officials expect to have cars In operation
by Saturday and that possibly a few
would run tomorrow.
Word was received TODAY from OF.
tawa announcing that the new civil ser.
vice bill will include substantial I'M
creases for some branches and thai
there will be no reductions In salaries
or Federal employees.
This Is expected to result In many
striking Government employees applying
for their old positions
Mayor Gray and members of the
citizens committee to-day discussed
the advisabllity of sending delegai
ton to Ottawa to discuss the strike and
collective bargaining problems.
Late to-day a majority of the railway
mail clerks OF the Winnipeg division
who Joined the strike appeared before
Gideon Robertson. Federal Minister 81
Labor, and asked permission TO RESUME
their work. They were allowed to re.
turn to their old places, having made
application before the twenty-four hout
ultimatum OF the Government had eN
pred.
FERNIE. B. c.. May 2s.-Fern!e ini
dustries which depend on electric powet
have been forced by a strike of electrified
workers to suspend operations The
railway shops closed to-day. The cleo,
tricians have struck in sympathy witt
about 1000 miners In the Crows Nes)
Pass district, who demand higher pat
and better working conditions Produc,
tion OF soft coal for consumption 4.
western Canada promises TO be lesi
sened materially by the strike.