The New York herald., 1921-08-08
Rail STRIKE THREAT
AGAINST TEN HOURS
New York District Council
Ready to Combat Return
to Old Conditions.
$4,000 MEN ARE AFFECTED
Railway Labor Board Decision
on Sept. 5 Is Expected to
Be UnfavOrable.
$4,000 MEN ARE AFFECTED

A general railroad strike was threat
Board now in session in Chicago, at
tempted to restore the ten hour day.
This is the first strike threat made
since the failure of the OUTLAW" strike
of 1920. It was made at meeting of
the New York District Council of the
United Brotherhood of Maintenance Of
Way and Shop Workers in Jersey City.
The local United Brotherhood. ac-
cording to It's leaders. represents $4,000
men employed by twelve railroads
within radius of seventy-five miles
of New York city. Through the union
of stationary flremen it is affiliated
with the American Federation of Labor
1t contains among its numbers many
former members OF the so-called outlaw
unions who were repudiated by the A.
F. of l.. when they struck year ago.
Although finally forced to abandon their
strike the outlaws harnpered railroad
operation in New York and Jersey City
for more than three months and caused
enormous property loss.
A decision on the eight hour question
is expected September and those In
close touch with the situation look for
ward to a revision OF hours and wages
in line with the general industrial re-
adjustment.
The meeting yesterday was called pri
marily in the interest or railroad safety.
1t was held in the Museum of Safety
Building at 571 Jersey avenue. and
throughout the morning session there
were lectures and motion pictures Illus
trating various safety appliances. with
special talks on workmen's compensa-
tion insurance.
When the delegates returned from
lunch. however. the complexion of the
meeting changed. Resolutions were
adopted condemnng the alleged attempt
OF the Labor Board to increase the hours
OF railway workers and calling upon all
railroad men to resist. q. II. Planten
of Boston, grand vice-president of the
national organization, told the delegates
that If they would stand together they
could force the bosses to terms In three
hours.
"If the decision on September is
unfavorable," he said. I'VE must do
something. II could afford It I would
buy every man fishing rod IL We
it will be enough"
r. Fl. Moore, delegate from the New
York, New Haven and Hartford local.
said every wheel In the country would
be stopped before the men would return
to the "old conditions He proposed
q resolution attacking an agreement re-
Gently made between the bridge building
and track workers OF the New Haven
lines, which. he said. does away with
the eight hour day and provides that
the settlement of grievances be left al
most entirely In the hands OF the COM
pany. The resolution was adopted.
Nice-President Planten rose again
and attacked President Harding for
telling the Railway Board to cut wages
and then telling lot OF dead men in
fToboSen (the returned soldier dcad)
that labor should get living wage ard
enough besides to save something for a
rainy day."
How in hell can we save on what we
are getting?" he demanded. There are
100000 men out OF work now. and
Harding has signed a bill adding half
the army to the unemployed"
Anthony Spair, who presided, made a
speech In which he denied that there
was any taint or Bolshevism in the
United Brotherhood. During the days
Of the outlaw strike. the strikers were
accused by the railroad managers OF
Bolshcvist sympathy
III anybody is a Bolshevist," Spair
said. lit Is the managers themselves"
He criticised the Mutual Benefit As
sociation OF the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which. he said, was financed by the COM
pany and did not give the men a square
deal
The council Is to meet again on the
second Sunday In September In Horizons
Hall. i25th street. unless circumstances
in the meantime require special meet
ing.