The Connecticut labor news., 1922-07-14
LEGION MEN BALK
 AT STRIKE BREAKING
 JOBS IN WORCESTER
Hired in Boston, Quit When Sent Into Railroad Shopmen's
 Places

worcester, July 14.-ACCOTQ1ng 10 officials of Machinists' Local 6o4 only I8 men are employed in the four rail road shops in Worcester, where until the shopmen's strike occurred, there were 258.
 This does not include, however, su- perintendents, supervisors and fore men who, it is understood, are em- ployed in filling grease cups and do ing other work which helpers form erly did.
 The shopmen's strike, officials say, can be termed 100 per cent. prop osition, all but two members of Local 6o4 having joined the strike, one of these being brother of a master mechanic, who deserted the union by returning to work on Monday morn ing.
 We have the situation well in hand," said one official, "and feel certain we are going to win. For the first few days little trouble was ex- perienced, but from now on condi tions are bound to be different. We have it on good authority that a goodly number of engines are com pletely out of commission, and that airbrake systems on a number Of trains leaving Worcester are in such condition that demands immediate at tention.
 We entertain little fears regarding any large number of men coming to Worcester to break our strike," he said, "and were convinced regarding this during the week upon the arrival of I3 men from Boston who were al charge of railroad detective.
 "When approached, the men said fl Io1 hai told they were to act as strikebreak- CTS and were much surprised when acquainted with this fact. Included in the party were several American Legion men who willingly consented to return to their homes when told of conditions that existed here.
 Of the IS men acting as strike breakers 1t is reported that only one of them IS a mechanic. All others were hired regardless of their knoW edge as mechanics, and officials say will prove of little use as car repair
 The work, they contend, Is such that only skilled men with years of experience can perform, and they feel confident that no matter how many strikebreakers the road managers are able to bring to Worcester they would have little bearing on breaking the strike.
 While Maintenance of Way Elm ployes have deferred their strike, 1t is reported that more than 100 walked out on Saturday morning. These gave as reasons that the new wage cut would not anywhere near bring suffic- tent revenue to meet their living eX- penSes.
 Officials of 6o4 say that since the Esch- -Cummins act went into effect, and the naming of the Labor Board that all decisions rendered by the lat ter were accepted graciously, until recently when rules which had been in operation on all railroads for more than 30 years were abrogated. This, with a reduction of eight cents per hour so aggravated them that a strike was considered the only means by which a halt could be made on the unreasonable proceedings of the board.
 Relative to items published to the 1 effect that no notice was given the railroads that a strike was to occur, officials of 6o4 said this was untrue. Railroad executives were fully aware the strike immediately fol- lowing the Labor Boards decision, they said, both by letter and through the press which every day printed stories concerning the activities ot the union.
 In addition to the 258 shop men and 100 maintenance of way employees who struck Saturday morning 1t was learned that 30 car knockers afili- | ated with the American Federation of Car Workers had walked out. It IS | said the latter struck without watt 1 ing for permission from their inter | national union, and gave reasons for their action similar to those given by l the maintenance men.
 To prove the unions contention | that the Labor Boards decisions are | not obligatory, and that by no means have the shop men violated any law by striking, they refer to ruling, made against the Pennsylvania and several other railroads, which were not carried out, and which did not stand water when brought before the courts This they said fully bears out President JewelPs statement to the effect that the Labor Boards powers are limited.
 The shop men hold daily meetings 1t Union Labor Temple Harry Will son is chairman of the strike com nittee, and has an able corps of who have placed their en- ire time at his disposal.
 The entire membership is divided nto groups who take turns in picket ng and by peaceful persuasion, 1t IS loped that if any great number of nen are lured here through misrep esentation, as was the case on Tues lay when I3 men came here from Boston, they will be able to keep the lumber of rikebreakers down to