"UNIONS EMPOWERED TO DECLARE STRIKE OF RUNNING TRADES," Toronto Globe. September 30, 1933. Page 1 & 2. ---- General Chairmen of Rail Brotherhoods Considering Next Move --- SECRET SESSIONS HELD ---- Growing Industrial Troubles Complicate Conditions in Canada ---- While one Canadian industrial strike was deadlocked yesterday an- other that might involve 30,000 workers was authorized.
Eight-hundred workers appeared definitely out of work with the decision of executives of six furniture factories and one meat packing plant to break off negotiations with workers who walked out a fortnight ago demanding higher wages and union recognition. In Montreal, union officials of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway running trades announced a strike vote had authorized them to call a walk-out If other efforts should fail to prevent enforcement of a second 10 per cent. cut in the basic wage rate. It was rumored, however, that further conferences would be held between union heads and railway executives.
At Kelowna, British Columbia, 500 angry farmers won their first skirmish against fruit shippers they claim were seeking to violate rules of a newly created Stabilization Marketing Board by shipping apples to market in bulk carloads. The farmers crowded onto a siding and prevented a locomotive from picking up cars said to be laden with bulk fruit shipment. While the 500 growers resisted passively, others rushed to Vernon, thirty miles distant, roused Judge Swanson and secured an Injunction preventing shipper and two railways from moving fruit in contravention of the board's "orderly marketing" rules.
Rail Strike Authorized. Montreal, Sept. 29. - With their hands strengthened by a vote among about 30,000 members empowering a strike, leaders of the railway running trades tonight were considering the next step in their fight against a second 10 per cent, cut in basic wage rates.
Since the tabulation of the vote was completed yesterday, the twenty- one General Chairmen and five union Vice-Presidents have been in conference behind closed doors. Announcement of the result of the strike ballot was made today after the rail- ways were first notified as a courtesy, but the figures for and against were not revealed. The bare announcement that the men had given the union leaders power to call a strike was not accompanied by any statement as to future action. although rumors about their headquarters were that another wage conference would be held shortly with railway heads.
Lines Not Surprised. From the railways no comment was forthcoming. The result of the vote probably occasioned little surprise, however, as it had been freely predicted for several days.
If further efforts to settle the question amicably should fail, the union heads would have to decide the date of the strike and make other preparations. The question of whether railway workers outside the running trades would join in a walkout would be considered. A co-operative association of railway labor unions has been formed to deal with this, among other questions.
The second cut in basic rates went into effect on May 1. A previous cut of 10 per cent., while not involved in the strike vote, is still subject to dispute, and a test case is being started in the courts to collect the deductions made after Feb. 1, 1933, on - which date the men claim their agreement for a reduced wage expired. Union men declined today to say whether the vote had been communicated to the Dominion Government.
Companies to Reply. Edmonton, Sept. 29. - "It is quite correct. The railways have taken cognizance of the communication and will make their reply in a few days. That is all it possible for me I to say just now," said E. W. Beatty, President of the Canadian Pacific Railway, today when shown a report from Montreal saying officials of the railway running trades unions had notified the companies they had been authorized by their members to call a strike.
