Interborough Strike of 1919 by G.J. Christiano - The Third Rail - 1/03

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our lines operating up and down Broadway."

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From the New York Herald, Tuesday, August 19, 1919.

CAR STRIKE SETTLED; TRAINS AGAIN RUNNING;
MEN GET 25 PER CENT INCREASE IN WAGES

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Commissioner Nixon in Role of Arbitrator Brings About Quick End of Big Car Strike

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With Active Support of Governor Smith
He Counsels Company Head and
the Brotherhood Chiefs and
Agreement He Formulated
Is Signed for Sumission
to Men.

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WORKERS UNANIMOUSLY RATIFY AND
VOTE TO ESTABLISH SERVICE
THIS MORNING

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Nothing Regarding Increase in Fare is Considered and It is Stated That
the Five Cent Rate Will Be
Continued Indefinitely.

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Agreement Which Ended the Strike.

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The men to be called to work immediately after the submission to a vote of the Brotherhood.

TO BE CONCEDED.

First - A flat increase of twenty-five per cent of the rates of all the wages paid over and above those paid August 1, 1919.

Second - All other questions to be negotiated between the brotherhood and the company and in case of failure of such negotiations to be arbitrated as provided for in the consitution approved by the directors.

Third - All members of the brotherhood of the I. R. T. em- ployees to be restored to their former positions and each to retain his individual seniority in the service.

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The strike on the subway and elevated lines of the Interborough Rapid

Transit Company, which had held the traveling public of Manhattan in a grip of congestion and unprecedented discomfort since Sunday morning, was settled last night. The chief arteries of the rapid transit system of the borough will be opened to normal flow of traffic this morning.

The men were ordered back to work immediately after the strikers had accepted the offer of the Interborough of a twenty-five per cent increase in wages just before nine o'clock at a meeting at strike headquarters. Service was resumed a few minutes after midnight and was increased gradually through- out the early morning. It was promised that approximately full schedules will be maintained during the morning rush .

It was said last night that a meeting of the Amalgamated Association will be held tomorrow night and that a strike on the green car lines will be voted unless men discharged for union activities are reinstated.

According to officials of the Public Service Commission it was clearly understood by the heads of the Interborough company in reaching the agreement with the Brotherhood of Interborough Employes that no attempt should be made to increase fares in order to meet the advance in wages. The agreement calls for arbitration of an added increase beyond twenty-five per cent and all other matters between the Interborough employes.

MR. NIXON ACTS TO

KEEP TRAFFIC SAFE

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The Public Service Commission, by direction of Commissioner Nixon, has stationed more than one hundred engineers and electrical equipment and transit inspectors at power houses, car barns, terminals and other focal points on the Interborough elevated and subway lines. Observations as to service and equipment were constantly made all yesterday. These inspectors worked under orders authorizing them to take such steps as they might deem necess- ary to provide that any service operated should be safest and most adequate which could be finished. They will remain on duty in day and night shifts for the duration of the strike.

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FULL SERVICE BY

BROADWAY SUBWAY

PROMISED BY B. R. T.

At the offices of the B.R.T. in Brooklyn last night it was said the Broadway (Manhattan) subway lines would be kept in operation today and that everything possible would be done to handle the crowds.

One of the officials said: - "We expect to be swamped tomorrow.' In fact we know we will, but all we ask is that the public be as patient as possible and we will make every effort to get them downtown, via Broad- way. We will have every car available in service on our Broadway local line and we also will be able to handle thousands from Fifty-ninth street down to Canal street, on our Fourth avenue subway lines.

"We have just been assured by the I.R.T. officials that they will be able to furnish enough power tomorrow to keep

Updated January 20 , 2003