The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-06
TRUCK DRIVERS
 UNIONS MAY SUE
(Continued from Page D

AAAO AAAVSA AloUAO1ldl WILL WdllU UO step in, to certain extent, because it sanctioned the strike, which in- wolves benef1ts," he said.
 Strauch said the actions brought by the Adley Express Co.,, Consoli- dated Motor Lines and Mccarthy Freight System, were regarded as, scare crows" to force acceptance of their terms in settling the tri-gs state strike prevailing in Connecti- cut, Rhode Island and Massachu-'' sets.
 Operators, he said, had several times agreed to contracts and then withdrawn" Consequently, he de- clared, the strike was being pro- longed by the operators themselves. The union considered the situation as lockout, inasmuch as trans portation companies suspended ser- vice.
 Conspiracy Lawful
 Straugh declared eff there was any conspiracy on the part of the unions" as charged in the company suits, "it was lawful since the aims of the union, to secure better working con- ditions, were perfectly lawful"
 Furthermore, he said, it seems paradoxical that the companies claim they couldn't pay the reason- able increases asked by the drivers and yet were willing to sustain a loss which, according to the claims of their suit, are considerably in ex-. | Af tIie i1,n have amounted to. That hardly jibes with good business practices"
 Local unions had received no noti- fication of suits and Attorney Mau- rice P. Wrenn, representing the American Federation of Labor affili- ate here, the Truckers and Helpers union, remarked that he did not ex- pect such action to materialize. Ru- dolph M. Tata business agent of the union, said that he had received no notice of suit involving the local la- bor organization or officials. Hope for Settlement
 Providence. R. l., April 6-(UP)-- Hopes for an early truce in the 18- day tri-state truck strike brightened today despite the filing of nearly $2,000000 in damage suits by three employers against the striking union. | Meeting with the Massachusetts arbitration board at Boston, a com- mittee representing the employers agreed last night to recommend to their membership that the entire rout over new contract be submit- ted to arbitration.
 Should the employers agree to ar. bitration, consent also will be asked of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ChauffeurS, Stablemen and Helpers, an American Fedora ton of Labor affiliate representing 5000 drivers left idle in Rhode Island Connecticut and Massachusetts by the strike.
 General Charles H. Cole, chairman of the Massachusetts board, said the employers decision would be an- nounced tomorrow. Yesterdays meeting brought the first hope for settlement since collapse of tri-state negotiations here last week end.
 Filing of the damage suits simul- taneously in U. s. district courts at Boston and New Haven, Conn.,, fol- lowed closely case against Phila- delphia hosiery union in which a federal jury awarded $711,93 dam ages in a dispute involving a sit- down strike.
 Truck Strike Suits
 In the truck strike suits, the Mc- Carthy Freight System of Taun- ton, Mass, Consolidated Motor Lines of Hartford, Conn, and Adley Ex- press Company, Inc, of Bridgeport, Conn, charged violation of the Sher- man anti-trust act through con- spifacy to interfere with interstate transportation of freight The firms said, they employ 2,000 and do ST. 100000 business annually.
 Named as respondents in the $990,000 Boston suits were the inter- national union, P. Harry Jennings, its vice-president and the unions local and officers in Springfield, Worcester, New Bedford. Fall River and Brockton-Taunton.
 Named as respondents in the $990,000 New Haven suits were the international union, Jennings and the unions locals and officers at Hartford, Bridgeport and New Ha- ven.
 l The strike was called after nego- tiators failed to agree on terms of a proposed three-year contract. The union has demanded a uniform maximum hour wage of 75 cents to | replace present varying maximum hourly rates averaging 60 cents.
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