Evening star., 1938-04-11
c. 0. OPENS FIGHT
TO SEIZE CONTROL
IN TRANSIT ROW
Seeks to Enroll Workers in
New Union, Assai|ing
A. F. |. Agent.
ASKS TO BE RECOGNIZED
0FFICIAlLYIN PARLEYS
Move Comes as Green Unit Tries
to Negotiate New Contract
With Owners.

With the American Federation of
Labor unit that for 20 years has rep
resented traction employees here seek
ing to negotiate a new contract with
the Capital Transit Co., the Trans
port Workers Union of the Commit
tee for Industrial Organization has
launched an organizing campaign
among the 5000 street car and bus
workers, and has asked the Labor
Board for recognition as their bar
gaining agent.
The entry of the John L. Lewis
unit into the local transportation field
was made known generally yesterday
when circulars we're distributed an
nouncing two mass meetings tomorrow
night at Turner's Arena. 134l w
street NV. One will be held at $50
pm. and the other at ! am. WED
nesday).
The announcement of these meet
ings was accompanied by circulars at
tacking John H. Cookman, business
agent for the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street and Electric Railway
Coach Employees, now representing the
workers and the Amalgamated They
also outline the T. w. U. program,
which calls for fiat IS per cent pay
increase and other employment ben
efits.
Contract Expires April Is.
The Amalgamated had a three-year
contract with the Capital Transit Co.
which expired April l and was ex-
tended to April Is when the union on
April S voted down a three-year re-
newal without substantial change.
E. D. Merrill, president and general
manager Of the company, declined to
say what the union was asking, other
than that it would involve some ad-
ditional cost to the company" but Mr..
Goodman said salient features we're
increases Of from 81 cents hourly-the
top rate-to 81 cents for two-man car
operation, and "a cents to 81 for one
man, and Accent boost for shopmen,
whose pay ranges from 20 cents to
SIPS hourly.
If no decision is reached by Friday
Mr.. Cookman said, the case would 20
to arbitration.
Twelve-Point Program.
The Transport Workers Union has
q l2-point program.
In addition to the IS per cent pay
boost, the organization asks: No fur
ther changes of two-men cars into
one-man cars: two weeks vacation
with pay; $35 weekly guarantee for
extra men and four days off monthly;
no speed-up and better running sched-
ules; full pay for shoW-up time; pen
slons, With union representation on
the pension board; eight-hour day
within a 10-hour span; hiring and fir
Ing on seniority basis; no classifica-
ton of shopmen below second class;
no shopmen to work trippers and 40
hour. 5-day week for shopmen.
Office workers are not involved
Mr.. Merrill said his only knowledge
OF the c. I. o. move was a notification
from the Labor Board that the Trans
port Workers Union was seeking to
represent the workers.
Making clear that he was not in
duiglng in an union controversy Mr..
Merrill said the c. l. o. plan would
mean startling increase in costs"
L see no reason for Is per cent
increase in the present circumstances
he added. Factories are layinp off
men iy,
taxing reduction in pay to hold
onto their jobs" he said.
Cites Pay Increase.
This company has granted two pay
increases in the last few years, one
amounting to 100000 in 1885 and
another amounting to 100000 in
1887. The pay roll has increased
$2,oo0,0oo since 1888"
Increased cost he added would have
to be met in higher fares or lessened
service, which would mean unem-
ployment
The c. I. o. organizing drive has
been on here for two weeks under the
direction of Neale McGillicuddy, ma
tional organizer for the T. w. U.
Mr.. McGillicuddy explained that he
had filed an application with the Labor
Board last week for recognition as the
employees bargaining agent, claiming
a majority of the employees, and had
expected to have 80 days to show this
majority. but was given only until
April 49,
Michael Quill, president of the T.
w. u, who led the successful argan-
izing drive in New York City, and who
was elected councilman on the
Fusionist ticket with Mayor La Guardia,
will be the principal speaker at to-
morrow nights mass meeting. John
p. Davis, president of the National
Negro Congress, also will speak.
The T. w. U. circulars assail the
Amalgamated as company unionism
in disguise" and accuse Mr.. Goodman
Of failing to support the suit of the
Federation Of Citizens Associations to
block one-man car operation.
Mr.. Cookman says his organization
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