Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28
UNION WILL SEEK
/ UNITEDLABORA AID
IN TAX|CAB STRIKE
Company Says 5 or 10 Driv-
ers Have Quit, Chairman
Holds Figure is 100 Men.
CHAUFFEURS' LOCAL
INSISTS 100 CARS IDLE
Declares They Are Being Given
Jobs by Other Concerns as Fast
as Cabs Can Be Obtained.

A finish fight on the Diamond Taxi
cab Co. was declared today by the Cen
trail Labor Union in announcing that
81 000 union men and women here will
be asked to withdraw their patronage
from the company's cabs because the
associated owners have refused to con-
tract for closed shop.
I'VE accept the challenge Of the Dia-
mond TaXicab Co." said a statement
today by r. A. Dickson, chairman of
the Central Unions Executive Commit
tee. expecting no quarter from the
company and prepared to give no quar-
ter. We will pit our economic strength
against their ability to hold out in the
face of it."
Contract Is Claimed.
Asked why the fight was centered on
the Diamond concern in view of the
fact that the other large operators of
taxicabS here are non-union organiza-
tons Mr. Dickson said it was because the
company had entered into contractual
relations with the chauffeurs union and
then had severed the relations in an
arbitrary manner.
Meanwhile, denial on behalf of the
Diamond owners was made to a claim
by Drivers and Chauffeurs Union No.
16e that 120 drivers and almost 100
cabs have been withdrawn from the
Diamond concern since the local ordered
. walkout Thursday night.
Alfred d. Smith, counsel for the Dia-
mond Co., estimated today that
only IS or 10 drivers" actually struck
and that no cabs are being withdrawn
from the association of Diamond own
ers. Mr.. Smith said there were no idle
cabs and no interruption of service.
Hold 80 Got New Jobs.
Pointing out that this fight was
forced on US" the Central Labor Unions
statement said that I'VE are informed
that union-operated cab companies here
have engaged more than 80 drivers who
left the Diamond Co. since the
strike was declared. A great number of
others are awaiting places on union
cabs and will be engaged just as soon
as new cabs arrive in Washington.
I'VE are placing drivers with other
concerns in the order which their ap-
plications are received. We will allow
one week for the drivers of Diamond
ta,dcebs to file their requests, and they
will be permitted to continue in the
company's employ until union cabs can
be procured for them.
I'VE are now engaged in perfecting
the machinery to reach the many locals
in Washington and to familiarize the
$4,000 members with the challenge the
Diamond Cab Co. has held out to us.
Holds Interests Widespread.
when we are prepared to enter this
contest as one big unit, we shall ask our
people to withdraw their patronage from
the Diamond Taxicab Co. That time Is
not far of.
THE interest of every union man and
woman IS involved. The company chal-
lenges the right to unionize their driv-
ers and has elected to operate under
non-union principles. This being the
case, they question the right of every
trades union man or woman to become
unionized and advocate the operation
Of all industries on non-union basis.
1T naturally follows, therefore. that
every union man or woman will be called
upon to his individual interest by pa
tronizing only such taxicab companies
as have recorded themselves in SYM
pathy with organized labor"
Mr.. Smith said, on behalf of the
owners, that large numbers of the driv-
ers themselves had no interest in joinir g
the union and that the contract pro-
posed by the local and rejected by the
owners would require the latter not only
TO become members themselves but to
pay the membership dues Of their en-
ployes. The Diamond Cab Co., Mr..
Smith said, prefers to hire union men,
but has been forced TO hire non union
men because the local cannot supply
enough drivers.
The Central Labor Union already has
placed other large taxicab concerns here
on its unfair LIST.