INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN NEW YORK, THIRD QUARTER,

1912.

Strikes and Lockouts.

The number of disputes recorded in the third quarter of 1912 was slightly greater than in 1911, namely, 43 as compared with 40. The number of employees concerned directly was 16,390 but a much larger number, 26,643, were indirectly affected. Of the latter 25,000 were building mechanics and laborers thrown out of work during the strike of teamsters employed on construction of subways, etc. in New York City. Thus the total number of employees involved in strikes and lockouts was 43,033 in 1912 as against 15,381 in 1911.

The direct participants in disputes lost 140,178 days and others lost 133,728 days of working time. In addition to these there were 589,249 days lost in the quarter through strikes begun before July 1, making an aggregate loss of 863,155 days. Last year the aggregate loss in the corresponding months was nearly the same, 856,776 days.

* Including both new disputes and earlier disputes which lasted into the quarter.

Ten disputes, less than one-quarter of the total number of new disputes in the quarter, produced time losses of 2,000 or more days each, or an aggregate of 273,906 days. This total is 97 per cent of the time lost in the 43 new disputes altogether. The list of ten principal disputes is given below and shows the location, trade involved, date, number of employees affected and days lost for each.

The disputes of the third quarter of 1912 were due to four principal causes, namely, demands for increase of wages, reduction of working hours, trade unionism and employment of particular persons, with one dispute classed as miscellaneous. Thirty disputes (70 per cent of the total number) were produced by efforts to secure wage increases. They involved 11,709 workmen, or more than 70 per cent of the total number. Trade unionism caused only eight disputes with 4,431 workmen involved therein.

Eleven disputes including 1,541 workmen resulted in favor i the workers, while 19 in which 5,650 were involved resulted to the advantage of the employers. The largest number of workmen, however, were engaged in the 13 disputes which resulted in compromises. This number, 9,199, is more than half the total number directly concerned in the disputes of the quarter.

State Intervention in Disputes.

Eleven interventions in disputes were accomplished by the state mediators during the third quarter of 1912, including the Utica. molders' strike which began on June 22. Settlements were effected in six cases, five of them as the result of conferences arranged and one the result of mediation with the parties separately. The latter case was the settlement of the strike of molders in the plant of the International Heater Company in Utica, being part of a strike which affected three firms.

Two interventions were instituted before strikes occurred, when they were seriously threatened. Two were undertaken after requests had been received. The following table gives a comparison of this year's interventions with those of preceding years:

Five cases of the Bureau's mediation in disputes, including the furriers' strike on June 20, are described in full on following pages. Others are briefly paragraphed as follows:

Albany: 450 street railway employees. On Aug. 2 a rumor was circulated that a strike would occur on the lines of the United Traction Company if the company insisted on putting into effect the new schedule posted in the car barns to take effect Aug. 5, changing the time of certain cars from 7 to 8 minutes stop, and displacing four men. Bureau immediately interviewed the president of the local union, who stated that the men had voted to go on strike unless the schedule were withdrawn. The mediator suggested that before a strike be called the Bureau be given an opportunity to intervene, which was agreed to. On the following day the Bureau's representative conferred with the general manager of the company and was informed that the matter was satisfactorily adjusted, that there would be no change in the established schedule, that the proposed change was authorized before he became general superintendent and that everything would continue as before until he was given an opportunity to investigate and familiarize himself with conditions. No strike occurred. Mechanicville: Freight handlers. (See detailed account below.)

New York City: 26 laborers employed in one warehouse struck Aug. 21 for increase of wages. Bureau intervened Aug. 23, interviewed the superintendent and asked him to confer with the men on strike but he refused to do so. Strike ended Aug. 24 when a part of the strikers returned to work.

returned to work on

New York City:

The laborers

New York City: 120 laborers and 8 coopers employed in one establishment struck Sept. 11 for increase of wages. Bureau intervened Sept. 14 and arranged a conference between employers and strikers which resulted in settlement. The company offered the laborers the increase demanded but stated that a machine had been installed for the coopering and was being operated by new men. Sept. 23 at the advanced rate. Marine firemen, etc. (See detailed account below) New York City: 1,080 longshoremen employed by four railroad companies struck July 9 for increase of wages. Bureau intervened July 12 and ascertained that the company was willing to meet a committee of the strikers, whereupon an effort was made to have a committee sent from the strikers to the company's representative. The strikers, however, refused to send any committee for conference. Strikers returned to work at old rate of wages.

New York City: 4,000 piano makers employed in 60 factories struck Sept. 23 for increase of wages and recognition of the union. Bureau intervened the same day and made many efforts to arrange a conference between the representatives of the union and the manufacturers' association but was unsuccessful. 250 of the strikers received small increases in wages but the others returned to work under old conditions. New York City: 2,000 teamsters employed by 85 members of the Contractors' Protective Association struck Aug. 28 for increase of wages, signed agreement and abolition of Sunday work. 25,000 building mechanics and laborers were rendered idle on account of the strike. Bureau intervened Aug. 29 and urged a conference between the strikers and contractors' representative but the latter stated that the association would not recognize the men on strike. Owing to the condition of the building trades, the Board of Governors of the Building Trades Association urged the contractors' association to confer with the strikers, and they did so. The strike ended Sept. 9 in a compromise.

New York City: 25 white goods workers employed in one factory struck Aug. 15 for full time, six days' work instead of 4 per week. Bureau intervened Aug. 27 and succeeded in arranging a conference the following day. The conference resulted in a settlement on compromise terms, the strikers to have 5 days' work per week. New York State: Wall paper printers, etc. (See detailed account below.) Utica: Molders. (See detailed account below.)

FREIGHT HANDLERS' STRIKE, MECHANICVILLE.

On Sept. 9, 1912, fifty-nine freight handlers employed by the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company at Mechanicville struck for an increase in wages. The company had been paying $1.75 per day and the men demanded $2.00. The checkers employed by the company were asked to do the laborers' work whereupon eleven of them refused to do so and joined the strike the next day, Sept. 10.

The first conference arranged by Mediator McManus of the Bureau was held at the company's office on Sept. 13. At this conference the men agreed to accept $1.80 per day offered by the company. No settlement was made because of the company's refusal to take back the checkers. On Sept. 14, after other interviews with officers of

the company, the representative of the Bureau of Mediation and Arbitration urged that the checkers be taken back. This was agreed to, another conference arranged and the strike settled.

MARINE FIREMEN AND LONGSHOREMEN'S STRIKE, NEW YORK CITY.

On July 1, a strike of 1,200 firemen and oilers and 800 seamen took place in New York City against the American Steamship Association, which affected six companies. The firemen and oilers were followed later on by 1,900 longshoremen. As the firemen, oilers and seamen left their employment their places were filled almost instantly by the shipping companies. The American Steamship Association refused to re-employ any of the firemen but did take back in their employ the seamen who went on strike.

On July 10, 700 longshoremen employed by the Morgan Line Steamship Company went on strike for an increase in wages from 30 to 35 cents an hour. The company refused to offer any concessions, stating they were paying as much wages as any of the other companies, and secured other men in the strikers' places.

On the 18th a committee from the longshoremen's union requested Mr. Bealin of the Bureau to intervene and endeavor to adjust the controversy. In company with Mediator Downey, a conference was held with Mr. Carl W. Jungen, General Superintendent of the Company, and the following conditions secured: That all men on strike would be reinstated in their former positions, wages to be 30 cents an hour, all overtime to be at the rate of 45 cents an hour, and work done on Sundays and holidays 50 cents an hour. The Bureau's representatives submitted this proposition to the men on strike and at a meeting held on the 19th the strikers accepted the company's proposition and all men returned to work at 1 p. m. on the 19th.

The settlement with the longshoremen of the Morgan Steamship Company resulted in adjusting the strike of the 1,200 other men who were also on strike.

WALL PAPER MACHINE PRINTERS' AND COLOR MIXERS' STRIKE.

Early in August the wall paper manufacturing industry was threatened with a general strike of the Machine Printers and Color Mixers' Union in regard to the terms of a trade agreement which expired July 31st. By mutual consent the old agreement was extended ten days, to August 10th, which was followed by two weeks annual vacation, expiring Aug. 24th.