Evening star., 1941-03-10
New York Bus Men
Put Out Picket Lines
As Thousands Walk
City's First Major Strike
In Transportation in IS
Years Hits $4,000
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, March 10-A Grip
pling strike of bus drivers sent
hundreds of thousands of business
bound New Workers scrambling for
subway lines and into taXicabs today
as the city's first major tranSpor-
tation tie-up in a quarter of GEN.
tury got under way.
A pre-dawn walkout of $500
drivers threw ruSh-hour tranSpOrta-
tion out of gear on q routes serving
875OO0 residents of Manhattan and
Queens and commuters from Staten
Island and New Jersey.
There was no disorder, but con-
siderable confusion at major trans
portation centers and at ferry slips.
Trolley cars have almost disap-
peared from Manhattan streets,
making buses important in moving
the city'S masses.
The strikers, members of the
Transport Workers Union &C. I. o., &,
demand a uniform eight-hour day,
three weeks vacation with pay in
stead of the present two weeks, and
a 25 per cent pay increase for driv-
ers, conductors, mechanics and ga
rage men.
Their Rate of Pay.
Drivers for the New York Omni-
bus Corp, whose buses have no con-
ductors, receive a maximum of 80
cents an hour. Drivers for the Fifth
Avenue Coach Co. are now paid a
top wage of 81 cents an hour and
conductors on those buses a maxi
mum of IA cents.
Mayor La Guardia, asserting
tragic mistake has been made" said
the unions attitude was "hullheaded,
obstinate and stupid"
Austin Hogan, president of the
New York local of the union, said
the union regretted that the bus
companies have forced the strike
action upon the employees instead of
choosing the peaceful, reasonable.
American way of settling through
negotiations.
Mr.. Hogan said the union would
be pleased to negotiate a settlement
and new agreement Just as soon
as the companies come forward with
a reasonable and counter proposal
to the demands of their employees" !"
Picket Lines Out.
Picket lines we're thrown around
bus terminals, garages and shops,
with orders from union officials to
conduct themselves as decent citi
zens and responsible union men"
Police instructions were issued
against mass picketing
John E. Mccarthy, executive vice
president of the Fifth Avenue Coach
Co.. said, I'VE are not running our
Buses" and a similar situation was
reported by the New York City
Omnibus Corp.
Mayor La Guardia said officials
of both lines had advised him they
were willing to continue the present
agreement, pending negotiations or
mediation, at least for "a hours.
He said he would be glad to see
committee of the union, if they
ask for a conference" but added
no such request had been made.
Call Demands Fantastic.
The bus companies, in full page
newspaper advertisements, said the
union demands called for increases
amounting to $1,24O,000 a year.
The company insisted the union
was making fantastic demands"
and asked the public not to blame
the men who operate the busses,
but rather the union officials.
From 30 union field Offices, Mr..
Hogans note was dispatched to all
union drivers at 4:30. 1t read:
Strike. At am. Monday, March
10, 194l, all employees will stop work
at once. Official strike call"
1t was Manhattan's first bus strike
and it marked the second time
Mayor La Guardias mediation at
temptS were spurned. Michael j.
Quill, president of the National
Transport Workers Union, twice
scorned the Mayors efforts, insisting
the companies would not negotiate
in good faith.
Mayors Attitude Is Stern.
Six hundred uniformed policemen
were stationed at II garages of the
company on the special order of the
mayor, who said in letter to Mr..
Quill:
Il must inform you that the
threats of terror and violence re-
ported in one New York City news
paper this morning cannot and will
not be ignored. The responsibility
will be fixed should there be any
violence at ANYTIME anywhere"