The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-03
new ENGLAND
STRIKES STUDIED
Continued from Page y

strike Friday unless replacement OF
men by women is stopped.
Workers changing shifts were
stoned by pickets at the Perennial
Dye and Print Works plant at West
warwick, r. l., where 275 OF the
450 employees are on strike.
Five shoe plants In Salem were
closed by strike OF 900 to 300 workers.
At Lowell, strikers authorized
G. T.. O.'s United Shoe and Leather
Workers union to represent them
in negotiations with the Phyllis
Shoe company for is per cent IN
crease.
Post Reaches Providence
Providence, r. l., March 3--UP)--
Dispatched by Secretary Of Labor
Frances Perkins, Federal Concilia-
tor Charles J. Post arrived here to-
day to attempt settlement of Rhode
Islands paralyzing truck drivers
strike.
Governor Robert E. Quinn, State
Labor Director Thomas F. Mcmahon
and Mayor Edward e. Dunno
pledged Post their full cooperation.
Meanwhile, both striking members
of the powerful chauffeurs and
transfers union, an American Fed
Grafton of Labor affiliate, whose
members man virtually al trucks IN
the state, and truck owners predict
ed speedy settlement, probably to-
morrow or Friday.
Each faction apparently was wait.
ing for The other to make the first
move. The strikers demand a 26
per cent wage increase while the
owners have offered O 10 per cent
increase.
Approximately 100 drivers still
were on strike today, some 300 hav-
ing been returned to work yesterday
and today under tentative agree
ments signed by small, independent
operators who agreed to abide by
terms of the final agreement.
Pickets from Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut and New York joined union
members In blockading highways
and preventing shipments Of all but
foodstuffs, medicinal supplies, milk
and fuel
Sporadic Outbreaks
Only minor sporadic out breaks OF
violence were reported yesterday
first day of the strike-as strikers
blockaded highways leading into
the state. Many trucks turned back
at the state line. Several drivers
who repeatedly resisted strikers
were dragged from their cabs and
allegedly beaten.
Governor Quinn reported the sit
uation "ticklish but not too bad"
Peace negotiations still were
stalemated by the unions demand
for q 20 per cent wage increase to
raise the pay level to that preva-
lent in Boston. where drivers receive
$37 or n cents an hour for a 48-
hour work week. Previously, the
Rhode Island drivers received $32.40
or so cents an hour for 54-hour
week.
Increase Trucking Rates
President Percy Arnold OF the
commercial haulers, operating rs
per cent Of the affected trucks, said
equalization to the unions demand
would necessitate IS per cent in
crease in trucking rates, which
would require approval by the in
terstate commerce commission. Such
approval, he asserted, would re-
quire at least 30 days.
I'VE are going to sit tight for the
present and not attempt to move
any trucks" he said. There are
two reasons for this decision. One
is the desire to prevent any violence
and the other. that we do not wish
to put inexperienced drivers in our
trucks"
The operators have granted the
unions demands for a 48-hour work
week with time and a half" for
overtime. a closed shop and years
contract, but refused to grant more
than 10 per cent wage increase.