New-York tribune., 1921-10-31
Milk Conferees
Fail to Agree;
Strike Inpends
Employers Board and Driv-
ers' Union Officials Hold
lS Hours Meeting in
Effort TO Adjust Scale
Goes Before Men To-day
Leaders to Report Results
of Conference TO Meeting
and Call for Their Vote

lengthy conference which it was
hoped would evert the threatened strike
of the milk wagon drivers of the city
broke up at o'clock this morning with
out the conferees coming to an agree
ment on any of the points involved
and strike is inevitable according to
Harry Piynik. chairman Of the confer
ence board of the drivers.
The conference took place at the
Hotel Martinique. Representatives of
the Milk Conference Board and Of the
Milk Wagon Drivers Union were pres
ent. 1t lasted for more than eighteen
hours. When Pivnik and the other
union members came out they said that
the situation WAS hopeless.
A meeting Of the drivers would take
place at p. m. to-day in Madison
Square Garden, Pivnik said, and their
representatives would report the fail
ure of the conference. A strike vote
would follow, he said.
"There is not the slightest doubt"
said Pivnik, 'that a unanimous vote
for strike will be cast"
If strike is declared IL 500 men will
walk out, according to union leaders.
In presenting its draft of a new
agreement to the employers, to become
effective Tuesday, the union demanded
a S. week wage increase over the
scale called for in the .presenr agree
ment, which expires tomorrow. The
board then countered with it's own idea
Of what the new agreement should be,
calling for 10 per cent wage cut for
inside workers and q decrease of 10
per cent for outside workers. A loop
hole was left open for further negotia-
tions, however, by a proviso that if the
unions would come forth with accept
able suggestions for increasing sales
Of milk the board would withdraw its
demand for a cut in wages.
One point in connection with this,
which was under discussion last night,
was a suggestion by the employers
that their selling forces, comprising
about as per cent of the union men, be
placed on q commission basis, with
certain guarantees" Should this be
acceptapIe to the union, they said, they
would "bc willing to withdraw the de-
mand that there be cut in wages of
the remaining 55 per cent" which is
mostly composed Of the drivers.
Certain of the union leaders did not
appear enthusiastic over this proposal.
Should the unions win their demand
for q wage increase it would be nee
essary again to increase the price Of
milk in New York, it was declared by
boards industrial relations committee.
"And what will be done if they don't
win their demand 2" he was asked.
"Well, that is problematical," was the
reply. eve have cut the price of milk
cents under that of year ago, where
as the Dairymen's League price to US
is only hais cent under a year ago.
We are carrying the last cent raise of
the league without cost to the con-
sumer.
Should a strike develop, another
board official added, milk will be deliv-
cred to stores, depots and hospitals,
but all family deliveries will be dis
continued.
L. Elkins Nathans. secretary Of the
board, was asked for a statement con-
cerning Saturdays attack on the "Milk
Trust" by Commissioner of Markets
Edwin J. O'Malley, in which he termed
the threatened strike situation as q
"frare-up," coming as forerunner for
another boost in the price OF milk.
''Its politics, pure politics and moth
ing else" said Mr. Nathans. "Of
course you know there's an election
coming on
Cancellation Commissioner Charles
Bendheim, of the Federal Department
OF Labor, acted as chairman of the con-
ference. He was assisted by Homer j. &.
Brown, another commissioner.