Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-18
GRANT ; PER CENT
RAISE TO WORKERS
AND AVERT STRIKE.
Wheelwright Offers Con-
tract for Year Accept
able to Union Delegates.
EMPLOYEES SAY COMPANY
GIVES ALL IT CAN AFFORD
Claim Majority of Demands, Ex-
cept Arbitration on Wage
Questions, Are Met.
PORTSMOUTH NOT SATISFIED
May Reject Proposal, While Hasty
Action Was Necessary to Pre-.
vent Norfolk Walkout.
EMPLOYEES SAY COMPANY
GIVES ALL IT CAN AFFORD
PORTSMOUTH NOT SATISFIED

Employees OF the Virginia Railway
and Power Company have reached an
agreement with company officials, thus
averting the threatened strike Of the
street car operators in Richmond, Nor
folk, Petersburg and Portsmouth.
After a conference lasting nearly
eight hours, delegates from the car
mems unions yesterday tentatively
accepted an offer signed by President
Thomas S. WheelwriEht. OF the Vir-
Einia Railway and Power Company.
calling for per cent increase in
wages. arbitration on all points e1-
cept wage questions and a yearly con-
tract with the four unions
Every employee of the Virginia Rail-
way and Power Company. from the
superintendent down TO the Office boy
T,otormen and laborers, will receive the
pay increase, which Is effective at once
Rejection Not Feared.
Although before final acceptance OF
contract is signed oieiaiiy s By tha ,he cane sne
men each OF the unions must vote on
the matter. committee members stated
possibility that the terms offered by
PRESIDENT Wheelwright would be re-
sensd sec1ed This &c son.rsst when inally
therein will bind both employer and
employee for one year.
basis by which older employees will
have choice OF runs. projection OF
substitute tau ,ra.nmen, arbi,rati9p. on all
any union committee at any time, a
ffty-tive- hour week for shopmen full
protection for all men from discharge
because OF union connections and a
basic nine to eleven-hour day for
motormen and conductors were said TO
which was signed by President WheeI
wright and rendered to the committee
for ratification by the four unions.
Working Demands Met.
Every working condition asked by
the committee was granted by the
made last night BY Howard Hayman.
! Every point asked by the union men IS
covered in the agreement which has
been submitted to them. in nineteen
Furthermore, it was stated by union
men last night that an agreement was
made in the conference yesterday to
the effect that Richmond carmen were
TO be put on the same basis of pay as
that In force in Norfolk as soon a S the
fare. here was increased to equal that
also inclusive of Petersburg, IT is said.
What union officials declare is one
whole contract is:
when any employee is suspended or
daH discharged 1 and after Investigation is
in his former position and maid ali
lost time at his regular rate"
Employee May Appeal
Another OF the nineteen points to
Hhich the COMPANY has agreed Is the
tho decision of superintendent 70
higher officials, and if he believes their R
president of the company. according n ing
to the statement of the Joint commit
tee members.
In turn. the union officials agreed
to a policy OF the open shop.
Working hours of motormen and con-
dustors will be from nine to eleven
ployees was guaranteed by the com.
pany. Union officials were also given
the right to be absent frop their work
without losing their seniority rights. il
their absence was on union business,
according to the report.
unions of carmen will be called by next
Tuesday. II was stated last night by
the representatives of the carmen here.
There was no doubt as to the ratifica-
tion Of the, agreement in any Of the
unions by the committeeman here yes
terday except the Portsmouth men.
who ,be Sow fear of objection
to the per cent wage increase.
Unions Win Victory.
Howard Hayman. Of Norfolk. said
last might that in his opinion the
wright, wright went @ o,Ih the very very iimit i in n n SUB
1.-THE company made AS many concas-
sions as possible, and I believe gave
as great an Increase in wages as it
was possible for for them to do in their
present state of finances. Our success
is greater than il strike had been
Only the efforts of John NJ Parker.
representative of tho AmaIgamated As
sociaton of Street Car and Elect rical
Employees of America, averted 4 strike
OF the Norfolk Union Of Carmen yes
terday, according to information given
Norfolk men were prepared yestcr-
day to refuse to take street cars from
the barns. 1t lis said, and informed
thsir two representatives here Of their
decision. Only dispatches from Parker
to the effect that the International or
ganizatipn would not sanction such ac-
lion kept them from walking out, it
is declared.
Investigate Dsmissnls.
Immediate action by President
whecIwright in the way Of an In
vcstigation into the discharge Of three
men, who declare they werc discharged
because of membership in tho union
was promised the carmen Yesterday at
tho conference by President Wheel
wright. 1t was further promised that
if,it was found that these men were
I(Continued on Second Page-)