New-York tribune., 1920-08-11
B. r. II. Raise
Refused; Men
Talk of Strike
Receiver Garrison Will
Not Discuss Open Shop
and Says 100000
Increase Is Impossible
Acts Under Court Order
Unions Declare Walk-Out
Will Come if Certain
Demands Are Not Met

Fosslplilty OF strlke or the employees
of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany, with q consequent tie-up of that
borough's transportation system, grew
threatening yesterday when Lindley M
turned down flatly the demands of the
Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees of America
submitted to him recently.
Mr. Garrison made his stand clear in
a letter to Edwin l.. Smith. chairman
Of committee representing the union,
which waited on Mr.. Garrison.
Mr.. Garrison said that in taking a
stand against tho CLOSED shop" and
in refusing to deal with any one other
than committee of the employees of
the lines of the company, into the
membership of which no outsiders
should enter, he is acting under the
instruction of the Federal Court.
In declining to grant the wage de-
mand of the union Mr.. Garrison as
serted that if he were to satisfy this
demand 1t would put an additional bur
den of Sl5,O00,000 annually upon the
company's resources. Such a burden.
he said, it would be quite impossible
for the company to assume in its pres
ent state of affairs.
MIR. Garrison's Letter
In his letter, Mr.. Garrison said in
part:
The papers that you submitted are
not changes in the existing agreement.
but are three new and distinct agree
ments with three local divisions Of the
q n loo, xo1 4 :,
Electric Railway Employees of America,
one representing the surface employ
ees, one the mechanical employees
and one the elevated and subway en-
ployees.
These agreements would make an
absolutely closed shop.
Under the circumstances there can
be no point at this time in entering
into any negotiation in regard to these
proposed agreements. | have always
refused to make a closed shop. l have
always refused to enter into con-
tract with anybody other than a COM
mittee of employees. AS you know, l
have taken this course under instruc-
tions from the court, whose representa-
tive | am
Until the court changes its instruc-
tlons in this respect it is useless to
have any negotiations, because | could
not under the circumstances enter into
any such agreement.
II recently. as you know, voluntarily
offered an increase of wages which
went to the limit of the financial means
at my disposal. Even if you were ask
ing me to modify merely the existing
agreement with the employees. l could
not possibly entertain the suggestions
contained in the papers submitted.
Under the most favorable construction
of the different demands it would add
a total of at least 10000 900 to the
existing wage payments.
Would Stop Operation
"These wage payments now aggregate
approximately $25,000.000, and the
gross income approximates $4,000, 900,
SO that what you are now asking for
would be enough to absorb all of the
entire gross earnings of the property.
In other words, you are now asking
that all the money that is taken in
shall be paid out as wages, without a
penny for supplies, materials and other
necessities. If granted your demands
could have only one result, which would
be to stop the operation of the roads"
Mr.. Garrison's letter was handed to
Mr.. Smith when the latter and the
executive committee of the Amalga-
mated called on the receiver to confer
with him on the demands of the union
The committee was headed by James
Sheridan. Patrick Shea, member of
the international Executive Board of
the Anal lgamated. also accompanied
the committee. Mr.. Garrison refused
to see the committee, and his letter to
Smith was handed the latter by Will
liam S. Menden, general manager of
the B. r. 7. Immediately upon receiv-
ing the letter and the information that
Mr.. Garrison would not see the com
mittee, the committee left the offices
Of the company
Mr.. Menden said:
eve cannot grant the demands of
the men for an increase in wages,
simply because we have not got the
money. l invited the men to appoint
q subcommittee to check up on our
ing to conceal. The status of the sys-
tenn is now a matter of court record" {"
Mr. Menden added, however, that,
while the wage demand of the men
could not be met by the company, some
of their demands could be granted i'm
mediately. He said the company would
be willing to grant the men the eight
- hour day provided the present rate Of
pay was maintained.
Strike a Last Resort
Commenting upon Mr.. Garrison's
Ictter and Mr.. Menden'S statement
Aaron Kopman, secretary Of Division
867, Elevated and Subway EMPLOYEES.
said that the men would strike "onlv
as last resort"
There are certain demands that we
are willing to submit to arbitration.'
said Kopman, "but, on the other hand
there are some demands that cannot be
arbitrated. The men will insist that
these demands be granted without arbi-
tration"
Asked whether the union would in
sist on these demands to the extent of
calling strike, Kopman said:
Yes, we will strike if they don't
grant some of the demands"
The executive committee of the
Amalgamated held meeting later in
the afternoon at which the details of
the situation and the new DEVELOPMENTS
were discussed 1t was not stated fol-
lowing the meeting what decision, if
any. had been reached
Division 867, Elevated and Subway
Employees, held meeting last night at
the Brooklyn Labor Lyceum at which
Mr.. Garrison's letter was submitted
for discussion. The meeting was be-
hind closed doors. No announcement
was made of the action taken 1t was
stated, however, that the plan of y
strike did not come up for discussion.
as this subject can be brought up only
after due deliberation by the execu-
tive committee and at a meeting Of all
the members of the Amalgamated in
lyrn nn l,rAt