The sun., 1919-04-15
EXPRESS STRIKERS
BEING REPLACED
Companies Assert Full Service
VIII Be Restored in a
Few Days.
SpeciaI Despafch 10 TIE Aun.

Special Despatch to THE Sur.
TORONTO. April 14.-Utilizing a good
sized staff of inexperienced men, the
Canadian Express Company Is carrying
on its business as best II can despite
the strike which has threatened to
tie up the express lines of the Dominion
The company is refusing to recognize the
strike, except to make 1t plain that any
striking employees may have their Jobs
back by applying for rehiring within a
reasonable length of time. The COM
pany has posted notices. however, that
those who fail to avail themselves of
this privilege will be considered to have
left the company's employment.
Green men are being rapidly broken
In on the express wagons throughout
this city and in other communities at
fected by the walkout. These men have
proved quick in grasping the work
which they have undertaken, and the
express traffic has reached almost. II
not quite, its normal status again. The
company believes 1t will be operating
again at capacity within a few days.
Large numbers of men, many of whom
are discharged and unemployed soldiers
and sailors, are said to be applying
for work daily, and the company Is en-
phatic in it's declaration that the strike
will fail.
It has been rumored that freight men
are to declare a sympathetic strike.
Both OF these classes of employees be-
long to the same union. and the freight
men, it Is said. will demand that the
express companies recognize this union
or they, too. will go out The Canadian
Brotherhood OF Railway Employees.
which is Immediately concerned with the
expressmen's union, claim a member
ship of 1860, although the men di-
recuy called out number about 5000.
As a further reserve and support to
the strikers the union declares that
there are 100, 900 members in the Do
minion Trades Congress with which 1t
is affiliated, while the International
Brotherhood claims afflliation with the
big Four" the railway organizations
OF Canada and the United States. and
with 100, 900 members of it's own broth
erhood on the Continent.
The Big Four" Is composed of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers,
the Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen.
the Brotherhood OF Railroad Conductors
and the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen. 1t is declared TO be the strong
est organized union In the country.
The strike was called on Thursday
night. and on Friday. according to Mont
real dispatches. President John Pullen
OF the Canadian Express Company Is
sued the following statement
1.-THE strike was called by the labor
leaders last night In accordance with
their announced plan. This strike order
was issued even before the Labor Appeal
Board, authorized by the Minister Of
Labor, had had an opportunity to re-
view the situation between the company
and it's men. The Labor Appeal Board
granted the workers generous increase
and declared in favor OF the eight hour
day being placed in operation as soon
as arrangements could be made for its
application by all the express COM
panies. but the leaders have persisted
in their course.
The company, In view OF these cir
cumstances, and in the public interest,
has had TO make arrangements to re-
place the strikers and is now employing
men at the rates of pay sanctioned by
the Labor Appeal Board. Not more
than so per cent. of the total number of
Canadian Express Company employees
in Montreal have gone out. In some
centres the percentage is slightly larger.
but at other large cities the organiza-
ton has remained practically intact.
Express shipments which reached the
company before notice was given to the
public of the impending strike are be-
ing delivered and arrangements are be-
ing completed to carry on business in a
normal way Many OF the men who
went on strike last night returned TO
service before noon to-day. II Is to be
hoped that wiser counsel will soon pre-
vail among the men"
Dispatches received here from various
parts Of the Dominion are conflicting in
their reports OF the damage done to the
Canadian Express Company's traffic by
the strike. From London. Ontario, the
ing that they have the company's traffic
in that district entirely tied UP. num-
Der of returned soldiers, who were en-
ployed by the company in that district
quit their new jobs on being Informed
that they were being used as strike
breakers, The strikers pickets are said
to be getting in much effective work in
that part Of Ontario
The striking employees at Hamilton.
Ontario. declare that sixty -eight or
about 90 per cent. OF the Company's
employees there went out on strike. The
company maintains that thirty en-
ployees are still NJ work and says fur
ther that It has 200 applications for the
positions left vacant by the striking en-
ployees. Practically every employee at
Winnipeg went out, according to acting
Secretary Walbank of the strikers COM
mittee.