New York City Transit Authority. Fact Finding Board. Exhibits,
1954

Collection Number: 5114

Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives
Martin P. Catherwood Library
227 Ives Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3183
kheel_center@cornell.edu
http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/kheel
Compiled by:
David Oshinsky
EAD encoding:
Casey S. Westerman, May 10, 2005

© 2004 Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
New York City Transit Authority. Fact Finding Board. Exhibits, 1954.
Collection Number:
5114
Creator:
New York City Transit Authority. Fact Finding Board.
Quantity:
0.5 linear foot.
Forms of Material:
Briefs, budget estimates, programs.
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University.
Abstract:
Exhibits presented to the New York City Transit Authority Fact Finding Board by the Transit Workers Union of America and the New York City Transit Authority.
Language:
Collection material in English

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY

On December 14, 1953, contract negotiations between the transit employees and the Transit Authority came to a halt. Michael J. Quill, president of the Transport Workers Union warned the T.A. that when the existing contract expired on January 1, 1954, his men would walk off their jobs. Since Quill's union represented 34,000 of the 44,000 transit employees, it was obvious that his "no contract, no work" policy would mean a complete shut-down of New York City's transportation facilities.
The T.W.U. was demanding a 25¢ an hour increase for all employees, 11 paid holidays, and a health insurance plan to be financed entirely by the T.A. These proposals with a cost of over $50,000,000 each year were labeled as "utterly fantastic" by the T.A. The Authority stated that the demands would mean a fare increase for commuters which was contrary to the welfare of the City. It also charged that acts of sabotage and slow-down techniques by T.W.U. members had cost the T.A. over $18,000,000.
The Transit Authority then hired Burton A. Zorn, a labor relations attorney, in an effort to have its 44,000 employees enjoined from striking by a State Supreme Court Order. The T.A. was studying an injunction in relation to the Condon-Wadlin Act, a state law forbidding strikes by public employees. Mr. Zorn was also concerned with the provisions of Section 876A of the Civil Practice Act applying to the use of injunctions in labor disputes.
In an effort to head off the impending strike, Mayor-elect Robert F. Wagner Jr. proposed that a fact-finding committee be appointed to look into the contract dispute. Both sides agreed to meet before the impartial committee while making it known that they would not be bound by its recommendations. The fact-finding committee began a series of hearings in February 1954, and the exhibits collected here were submitted.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Exhibits presented to the New York City Transit Authority Fact Finding Board by the Transit Workers Union of America and the New York City Transit Authority.
SUBJECTS

Names:
New York City Transit Authority. Fact Finding Board.
Transport Workers Union.
New York City Transit Authority.

Subjects:
Transport workers -- New York (State) -- New York.
Transport workers -- Labor unions -- New York (State) -- New York.
Wages -- Transport workers -- New York (State) -- New York.
Collective bargaining agreements -- Local transit -- New York (State) -- New York.
Strikes and lockouts -- Transport workers -- New York (State) -- New York.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference archivist for access to these materials.
Restrictions on Use:
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and Procedures for Document Use.
Cite As:
New York City Transit Authority. Fact Finding Board. Exhibits, 1954. 5114. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University.
COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT

Materials are arranged by document type.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Employee Exhibits.
Proposed Contract Provisions for Year 1954
 Folder 1
Wage Rate - Maintainer
 Folder 2
Wage Rate- Motorman
 Folder 3
Wage Rate - Bus Operator
 Folder 4
Real Wages - 1941 and 1953
 Folder 5
Mechanic Wage Rates Prevailing in N.Y.C.
 Folder 6
Wage Rates in Comparable Jobs - N.Y.C.
 Folder 7
Gross National Product 1950 and 1953
 Folder 8
Vacation Pay Practices
 Folder 9
Mayor Wagner on Pension Contribution Reduction
Folder 10
Holiday Pay Practices - New York Telephone Co.
Folder 11
Holiday Pay Practices - Consolidated Edison Co., Inc.
Folder 12
Medical Qualifications for Authority Employees
Folder 13
Proposed Grievance Procedure
 Folder 14
Proposed Disciplinary Procedure
 Folder 15
Excerpt - Report of Committee of Citizens 1943
Folder 16
Excerpts - Wilkinson Committee Report 1943
 Folder 17
Woods' Letter of Resignation
 Folder 18
Grievance Procedure - Pressed Steel Car Co., Inc.
Folder 19
Grievance Procedure- Consolidated Edison Co., Inc.
Folder 20
Grievance Procedure - New York Telephone Co.
Folder 21
Union Recognition - Pressed Steel Car Co., Inc.
Folder 22
Night Wage Differential - New York Telephone Co.
Folder 23
Night Wage Differential - Consolidated Edison Co.,Inc.
Folder 24
Excerpt - Woods Report 1950 Re: tools
 Folder 25
Extract "New Yorker" Magazine
 Folder 26
Authority Telegram of September 21, 1953
 Folder 27
Exhibits submitted in support of employees.
Brief submitted by Civil Service Forum of New York City in support of transit employees concerning contract proposals.
 Folder 1
Supplemental Brief submitted by the Civil Service Forum in support of transit employees concerning additional contract proposal.
Folder 2
Program submitted in support of transit employees by The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 380, AFL, entitled "An American Standard of Living For The Transit Workers of America's Largest City".
Folder 3
Employer exhibits.
Original and Revised Budget Estimates for Fiscal year 1953-54
 Folder 1
Estimated Operating Results 1953-57
 Folder 2
Additional Current Expenditures Classified by the Transit Authority as Capital but which the City may not allow in Whole or in Part
Folder 3
Capital Program 1954-1959 Program for 1954
 Folder 4
Deferred Maintenance Program for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1954
 Folder 5
Deferred Maintenance Program for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1955
 Folder 6
Total Transit Passengers 1947-1954- (Local) (Urban) Railways and Bus Lines
 Folder 7
The Subway Fare and New York Business: A Study-Retail Dry Goods Association of New York
 Folder 8
Cost of l¢ Per Hour Increase - Based on Original 1953-54 Budget
 Folder 9
Estimated Cost of Transport Workers' Union Demands to the New York City Transit Authority
 Folder 10
Estimated Cost of Demands of Division 1056 of the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America, AFL
Folder 11