Trainman News

Niagara Jct.
57-Day Strike
Comes to End

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. --A 57-day strike on Niagara Junction Railway came to an end May 12 when a satisfactory mediation agreement was reached.

The men on the property, members of Cataract Lodge 639, went on strike March 17 only after management had consistently refused to make satisfactory settlement of their dispute over wages and rules.

Deputy President Walter E. Grady, assigned by President W. P. Kennedy to assist General Chairman Vincent Tighe and his committee, declared at strike's end that the BRTers "showed exemplary courage and fortitude in their conduct during the strike."

The agreement ending the strike provided:

All officials operating engines were first required to leave the property.

•James Redding, a yardmaster who joined in the strike, was reinstated to his job as yardmaster with all seniority unimpaired.

•All time claims pending before management were to be paid.

•The men went back to work at 7 a. m., Friday, May 13, in accordance with their bids of March 20, 1955.

A guarantee of the same number of jobs was arrived at and placed in effect on Friday, May 13.

• All insurance premiums on policies held by the striking employees, which are of a group nature, were to be paid by management with the stipulation that the striking employees would pay back one week at a time-until their deficit was paid off.

Numerous other benefits were won.

It also was stipulated in the pact that any issues contained in the BRT's notice of Sept. 30, 1954, which were withdrawn in national handling, would again be reinstated and handled to a conclusion at the discretion of the Brotherhood without the necessity of serving another notice under Section 6 of Railway Labor Act, as amended.