New-York tribune., 1920-02-15
B. r. T. Strike
w Wednesday if
Demands Fail
Carmen Ready to Walk Out
and Tie Up Borough I'm
less Raise of 25 Per
Cent Is Given by Road

Officials Of the trolleymen's union
threatened last night to call out every
union man on the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit system at 5 a. m. Wednesday
unless Lindley M. Garrison, the re-
ceiver, had agreed by then to grant
further wage increase of 25 per
cent: They asserted that they were
entitled to this under working
agreement" entered into December 16,
1919, which promised an increase equal
to that granted after the strike last
The situation is to be discussed at
the Offices of the B. r. T. at 10 a. m.
tomorrow According to the officers
OF the Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway Employe IS
OF America, the agreement of Decembe +
16 stipulated that The 25 per cent in
crease WAS to be granted within sixty
days. The time limit would expire
tomorrow. they said.
Argument Over Agreement
According to officers Of the Amalga-
mated Association, the agreement of
December 16 granted not only a fiat
wage increase, but allowed time and q
half for overtime and fixed a working
schedule under which so per cent Of
the runs should be worked nine hours
hours within twelve hours, and 10 per
cent, ten hours within fourteen hours.
Mr.. Garrison, Frederick P Royce, his
general manager, and William S. Men
den, general superintendent, signed
the agreement, it was said.
One of the union leaders declared
that Mr. Menden, in talking of the
carrying out Of the agreement Friday,
said: "1t can't be done; that's all
there is to it,"
The principal grievance of the men
is said to be the long hours they have
had to work, especially since the storm,
without extra n7pensation. 1t was
said that if Mr.. Garrison yielued on
this point strike might be avoided
Officials of the company were inclined
to think there would be no strike
"Mr. Garrison will see Judge Mayer
Monday or Tuesday," said one of
them, land everything will be straight
ened out"
Unions Welcome Test
Representatives of the Amalgamated
Association made it plain that they
would welcome a test of strength with
the B. R. T. They gave out figures
showing that of 1900 employees in the
elevated and subway lines Of the B. R.
7. only seventytwo do not belong to
VIC 1AHNA aAAoSCO, OuC VI fJoOO Gil"
ployees Of the surface lines, only 242
are not members Of the Amalgamated;
out of $500 other employees, including
shopmen, only 116 do not belong to the
Amalgamated. All employees in the
power houses, it was said, are now
members of the Amalgamated, whereas
in August none of the power house
men were affiliated.
For three days a committee of five
members Of the Amalgamated has been
in daily conference with representa-
tives Of Mr. Garrison. The conferees
on the part Of the Amalgamated were
P. J. Shea, the international vice pres
ident Of the Amalgamated and leader
in the August strike; James Sheridan
and Hugh Slattery, Of Division 918 of
the Amalgamated, composed Of surface
employees; Morris Drubin and Max
Brodie, of Divisions S67 and $40 of the
ANA gamated. composed of elevate
and subway employees and employees of
the shops and maintenance sections
Mr.. Garrison was represented at
hese conferences by Mr.. Menden, gen
eral superintendent In charge Of trans
portaton; George D. ieomans, general
couns' william siebert, superintend-
ent O. au rftce lr4n fportofion. nnl 'an