New-York tribune., 1921-12-13
Surprise Strike
Ties UpPackingg g
Industry Here
Early-Morning Walk-Out in
Plants of ftlle Metropolitan
I District Threatens to In
volvc All Eastern Cities
Companies to Fill Places
Declare Employees Action
Will Have Only a Sigh,
Effect on Meat Supply

New Works packing industry was
completely taken by surprise early
yesterday. when meat cutters, slaugh-
terers and other employees of local
packing plants walked out in connection
with the mid-Western meat workers.
strike. The local plants of the "Big
Five" packers were at standstill and
their establishments in New Jersey
were similarly affected.
AS soon as they had recovered from
their astonishment officials of the
plants held a meeting in the office of
W. H. Noyes, at II East Forty-second
Street. They then announced, through
PendletoA Dudley, Eastern director of
the Institute of American Meat Pack
ers, that men will be employed as
rapidly as possible to fill the places of
the strikers and that meanwhile New
York's meat supply will be only slight
ly curtailed.
This last contention of the packing
officials is disputed by the union lead
ers, who assert that "as a result of the
strike the meat supply is seriously
crippled" They say also that, since
the strike has broken from the mid
West into New York and cities of New
1eISey, IL VIII DC eHIeuueu Iapiuly 10
Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo and other
Eastern cities.
Conflicting statements immediately
arose as to the number Of men in
volved. The Labor Bureau, in a for
NAL summary of facts" issued on be-
half of the union, says there are be-
tween 4,000 and 5000 men on strike
from the New York and New Jersey
packing houses. Speaking for the pack
ers, Mr.. Noyes said that not more than
$500 are out, and added that ''many
Of the employees remained at work"
The Labor Bureaus summary on this
point reads as follows:
"New York Butchers Dressed Beef
Company (Armour e. Coz, Fortieth
Street and Eleventh Avenue, 600 men
out; United Dressed Beef Company
(Swift & Coz, Forty fourth Street and
First Avenue, 700 men out; ]. j. Har-
rington (Swift & Co), Forty-third
Street and First Avenue, 200 men out;
Joseph Stern Sons G. Co. morris g.
Co.., Thirty-ninth Street and Eleventh
Avenue, 800 men out; Nagel Packing
Company (Cudahy Packing Company,
Twentieth Street, Jersey City, 400 men
out; Wilson & Co., Forty-ffth Street
and First Avenue, 800 men out"
The strike was begun without vio-
lence. Police, including a number
from the mounted squad, were placed
on guard at all the plants.
Merits of the strike were gone into
extensively by the representatives of
both sides.
For the union, John Kennedy, presi-
dent of District Council No. Of the
Amalgamated Association Of Meat Cut
ters and Butcher Workmen, declared
emphatically that it was not sympa-
thetic strike and denied that the union
had broken any agreement with the
packers.
On behalf Of the packers, Mr.. Dud-
ley said that "the strike is solely of a
sympathetic sort and without reason or
justification.'
Mr.. Kennedy's statement, in part, was
as follows:
"The men have walked out to main
tain collective bargaining in the in
dustry. This is a war against war; it
is a strike against strikes as method
of settling industrial disputes. For
twenty years the union has had con-
tracts with the employers here in New
York These preserved law and order
in the industry. The New York en-
ployers now refuse to carry on"
Mr.. Dudley's statement was, in part:
at cannot be emphasized too strong
ly that the men quit work without
warning, without giving expression to
a single grievance and solely in sym
pathy with the strike in Chicago and
other Western cities.
"The plants concerned wero operat-
ing to-day to limited extent. but as
there is no difficulty in securing an
abundance Of packing house labor, the
arrangements expect to get the plants
on normal working basis in a short
time"
Services of the State Department of
Labor were rendered both sides by M.
j. Reagan, chief mediator, acting for
Henry D. Sayer, State Commissioner of
Labor. Mr.. Reagan said that Governor
Miller was watching the strike with a
view toward a state investigation
should the cty's supply of fresh meat
be seriously affected