Evening star., 1950-08-22
Parliament Is Called
To Meet Emergency in
Canada S Rail Strike
BY the Associoted Press

MONTREAL, Aug. 22-More
than $4,000 railway workers
walked of their jobs today in
Canada's first nationwide rail
strike. Prime Minister Louis st.
Laurent announced after an emer-
gency cabinet meeting in Ottawa
that parliament is being sum-
moned to meet at once to deal
with tie crisis.
The Prime Minister said the
government must act to protect
the national interest in what
would otherwise develop quickly
into a serious emergency"
Standby services swung into
action at once to ease the tie-up
crisis, but some areas faced grave
threats of food shortages.
Parliament has been in recess,
but had been due to be recalled
soon in any case because Of the
international situation. The Prime
Minister summoned it ito meet
at once 50 that the representatives
of all the people may act together
in discharging their responsible
ties to meet the situation"
Mediation Efforts Fail.
Government mediation efforts
which began last Saturday ended
this morning with union leaders
saying that's all-no settlement. ="
They sought increased pay and
a 40-hour week instead of the
present 48-hour week. Manage
ment's offer to pay scales under
a 44-hour week were rejected.
The strike crippled the railway
and telegraph facilities of Cam
ada's two major continental sys-
tems-Tthe Canadian National
Railways and the Canadian Pa
ciflc Railways.
Bus companies and airlines ex-
panded services to handle trav-
elers. A real emergency faced iso-
lated towns like Hornepayne, On
tario, 575 miles north of Toronto,
which has no highway connection
to other parts of Canada. It's
1000 residents were hopeful spe-
cial trains would be organized to
bring in fresh food. The towns
telephone conection was also cut
off by the strike.
Passengers Stranded.
Tran continental passengers
were stranded in Montreal and
Toronto yesterday when trains
failed to depart because they
could not reach their destination
before the strike deadline-6 am.
EST today.
The last trains from Chicago
and Detroit rolled into Toronto
and police were ordered to lock the
big Union Station and check every
one seeking to enter or leave.
Communities from Newfound-
land to British Columbia faced
food shortages and industry faced
crisis because of nondelivery of
goods. The Canadian Automotive
Transport Association announced
in Toronto that every truck across
Canada would be pressed into
service transporting foods, medi-
cal supplies and general freight.
In Ottawa, oil companies spoke
of distinct possibility" that
motorists will be cut off if the
strike lasts more than week.
The unions demanded the work
week be reduced from 48 to 40
hours, effective next January l,
with pay for 48 hours, plus a gen.
eral wage boost of z cents an hour
retroactive to June, 1949.
The railways offered a 44-hour
week with a 81 per cent wage in
crease. The railways also were
reported to have admitted a moral
obligation to put in a 40-hour week,
but refused to set date for its
inauguration.
The New York Central said
that as result of the strike it was
halting all service into Canada.
The line Cancelled outright the
daily run of the through Montreal
Limited and announced that other
runs would be terminated on the
United States side of the Cana
dian border.