The New York herald., 1922-09-17
new YORK CENTRAL
BREAKS Off PARLEY
With SHOP STRIKERS
Puts an End to Conferences
as Men Interject New
Demands.
WILL HIRE OTHER)
Road Was Only One in the
East Eager to Settle With
Shopcrafts.
UNION CHIEFS SILENT
Go Into Conference TO Get o
Thorough Understanding
of Situation
UNION CHIEFS SILENT


taken by officials of the New York
Central Lines and the representatives
of the striking shopcrafts in the hope
that settlement Of the strike might
be brought about came to an abrupt
end last night. The railroad officials
broke off negotiations, according to
their statement, when the shopcrafts
representatives attempted to interject
new demands, the character Of which
was not disclosed. It was said that
no future conferences will be held.
Road Issues Statement.
The New York Central executives
issued the following statement after
the breaking up Of the conference,
which was held at 46s Lexington ave-
nue.:
THE final session Of a series Of con-
ferences between representatives Of the
shopcraft employees still on strike and
officers OF the New York Central Lines
terminated this evening without an
agreement being reached. The New
York Central officials were ready and
willing throughout the succession of
conferences to abide BY and fulfill the
letter and spirit OF the memorandum OF
agreement reached at Baltimore. The
representatives OF the shopcrafts, how.
ever, attempted to interject questions
not mentioned in the text and clearly
outside the agreement. insisting thai
these matters be included.
Ito this the railroad management
could not agree. The New York Cen
tral Lines viii continue to employ lner
| 10 fill existing vacancies in the shol
| forces At present there Ia a total o.
| s2,951 men at work out of a norma
| force Of 1912 men"
Union Chiefs silent.
After leaving the conference room the
leaders of the six striking shopcrafts
went to the Hotel Continental, where
they went into conference with the cen
tral strike committee of which j. j
Dowd Us chairman and David Williams
secretary The central committee re.
fused to discuss the breaking down OF
negotiations with the New York Cen
tral before going into the conference
explaining that they desired to get a
thorough understanding of the situation
before making a statement.
The New York Central seemed to be
more friendly toward the striking shop
crafts than any of the Eastern railroads
and more eager to work out settle
ment with them along the lines OF the
Baltimore agreement The breakdown
OF negotiations. therefore. appeared al
the moment TO indicate that the rail-
road strike in the East is far from set
tlement.
Rift Over Farming Out.
The leaders OF the six shopcrafts said
at the conclusion OF their conference
with the central committee that dif-
ferences in the Interpretation OF the
Baltimore agreement. which was the
nucleus OF the Chicago agreement by
which the striking employees of about
fifty railroads will return to work
caused the break in negotiations with
the New York Central officials. The
attitude of the union leaders was that
IL the shopnen must accept the new
rates OF pay directed by the railroad
labor board the New York Central
should accept the ruling OF the came
body prohibiting the contracting out OF
shop work and the compulsory install
lation Of piece work.
The employees realized that In sign
ing the agreement the men on strike
would have TO return TO work at the
new rates of pay established as 81
July I. 1892 At the same time the
employees believed that IL they must
accept this decision of the railroad
labor board the company should &C
cept the decision OF the board prohibit
ing the contracting out OF shop work
and the compulsory installation OF
piece work. The company officials in
terpreted the agreement 70 mean that
the employees must accept the re-
duced wages, while the company hal
the privilege OF violating the rules OF
piece work"