The sun., 1919-09-07
PRISON KEEPERS ASK
INCREASE IN WAGES
Want Rate of Pay Approx
mating Scale Fixed for
PatrOlmen.
STRIKE is NOT LIKELY
Working Conditions Involve
Long Hours, Another Com
plant Made.

Prison keepers at the Tombs and
| ether Department of Correction institu-
lions III the city, II was learned yester-
day, are making determined efforts
through their organization, the Prison
Keepers Benevolent Association, to oh
tain favorable consideration of their de-
mands for a general Improvement In
their working conditions and for rate
OF pay approximating the scale fixed for
patrolmen in the Police Department.
From d man employed as keeper in
the Tombs who holds down an official
place in the keepers organization 1t
was made known yesterday that, al
though the executive committee of the
association Is now busy seeking to have
the matter of overwork and inadequate'
nay adjusted by bringing it to the at
| tention of the proper city officials, the
likelihood of a strike that will denude
the, city prisons of keepers is rather re.
mote.
From this man II was learned also the
Prison Keepers Benevolent Association
at one of its recent meetings received
an invitation from an organizer for the
American Federation of Labor to apply
for charter in the latter organization.
No action has been taken on this sug
| gestion as II was found subsequently.
| there is a provision somewhere in the
bylaws or constitution OF the labor
federation which may act as a bar L.
| the adrnittance of peace officers. This
matter, II is understood. is now being
| looked into at the American Federation
| of Labor headquarters at Washington.
The prison keepers in the employ of
the city receive at present salaries rang
ing from 5000 to s1,440 year, III,
average being $1,1S0. Those reaching
the maximum rate appear to be only
a small minority. Commissioner of
| Corrections James A. Hamilton sought
recently to adjust the rate of the
keepers pay on a basis of from $1,000 TO
s1,440 u year. The members of the as
ISOLATION refused to accept this scale
on the ground that the majority of the
men would still be kept at a minimum
of $1,000 a year, which they consider as
altogether inadequate in view of the
soaring costs of living.
The demand of the keepers is for the
| polio escale. and any increases granted
in future to the policemen, they say,
| should be automatically granted to the
keepers also. They base their claims to
| consideration on a par with the police
men on tn fact that they are called upon
to meet the same requirements as police
officers to get appointments and must
| pass similar examinations.
The complaint of the keepers regard
| ing their working conditions involves
| mainly the question of long working
hours. They have to work anywhere
| from twelve to sixteen and eighteen
| hours a day, seven days a week, with
| time off only on altrnate Saturdays and
| every other holiday. Some of the men
working at the island institutions in the
East River are able to get home to their
| families but once in three weeks.
The Prison Keepers Benevolent Assoc
| Citations membership numbers $50, which
| includes practically all of the keepers
employed by the city. Their counsel, 1t
was learned. is preparing strong resolu-
lions dealing with their conditions and
demands, which will be submitted to the
Board of Estimate at the next meeting
of that body.