The sun., 1919-05-09
t1,OOO AFFECTED BY
! EXPRESS STRIKE
All Business Is Now Tied Up
in Greater New York, Long
Island and North Jersey.
y. s. TO TRY MEDIATION
Men Prepare Contract for New
Wage Schcdule-Milk De-
! livery Goes On.

The entire express business III
Greater New York. Long Island and
northern New Jersey was stopped yes
erday by the spread OF the strike OF
rivers chauffeurs, platform men. me-
fhanics, foremen, weigh masters and
bther employees OF the American Rail-
way Express, Adams. Southern and
Wells Fargo Express companies.
Not a package moved out Of any ter
piral I'm the FIVE boroughs, and the tie
hp affected 1900 workers. The condi-
pom created Is more annoying and the
inconvenience greater than the harbor
ltrikes that tied UP cargoes a month
lgo.
A. NJ. Banks. Commissioner from the
Division of Labor of the United States
railroad Administration. hurried from
washington yesterday to attempt medi-
ttion OF the dispute that so suddenly
was precipitated on Wednesday. He
POUND the strange situation of no de-
pands having been presented to the
companies by the men. and so when he
conferred with Robert L. NJ. Cowie.
ice-president of the American Rail-
Eay EXPRESS Company, he was unable
70 get first hand information OF what
Pie strikers actually wanted Mr..
Eowie told him the men were dissats-
PED with the award of the Wage Board
h the Railroad Administration
MT Banks made his headquarters at
fhe Hotel Woodstock and last night
paw representatives of the workers
Michael J. Casual, first vice president
the International brotherhood OF
Eeamsters and ChauTeurs. with which
he expressmen have affiliated, described
Pie demands as follows:
I'VE want a fiat increase Of s25 a
ponth, at least. for all employees, this
pcrease to date from January l. 1919
fn eight hour day. time and a half for
overtime. double pay for Sundays and
yen holidays. one weeks vacation with
pay for employees of one years SER
vice or more and recognition OF the
tnion. The companies do not recog-
hize the labor organizations"
He said the delivery OF milk would
pot be much affected by the strike, but
Plat the strike would stop the delivery
pr perishable goods No other union
hen in other branches of employment
will handle articles formerly handled by
expressmen, he declared.
Great loads OF merchandise and other
goods are stranded at the New Jersey
hnd Long Island terminals. No pack
fges were received at the other termi-
pals. All service In Long Island was
bed UP early yesterday when 900 driv-
ffs and eighty repair men left work At
the same time the 1900 express hand
|ers In Jersey City walked out. Tho
Adams Express Company asked police
protection for its money csr. which
noved from the Montgomery street
bffice to the Pennsylvania ferry About
5000 men went out Wednesday in New
York city.
The strike is perfectly organized with
put the control of outside labor agita-
tors as has been the case in several
pther recent strikes in New York. The
meetings yesterday were orderly, and
with confidence in winning their de-
nands, the men say there is not the
slightest indication of disturbances such
Rs characterized the strike nine years
hgo.
East Sixty-seventh street around
Third avenue. was filed with express
workers yesterday At the relayed meet
tngs In the Central Opera House, about
1000 expressmen unanimously ratified
the demands that were drawn up by
the executive committee The meeting
was presided over by Benjamin Null
drew. chairman OF the Government en-
ployees. A contract was drawn up for
the new working schedule. and this will
be presented to the express companies.