NEWSLESS NEW YORK

Southland Times, Issue 19049, 19 September 1923, Page 5

NEWSLESS NEW YORK

PRESSMEN ON STRIKE. DISPUTE ABOUT HOURS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright ) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). NEW YORK, September 18. (Received September 18, 10.20 p.m.) New York city this morning is without a single newspaper, due to the suspension of work by pressmen. Without a moment’s notice, all walked out from the press roms at 12.30 this morning, after stating that the Union decided upon a walk-out at a secret meeting, without informing the proprietors. The action arises from a longstanding dispute between the Union and press operators. More than two years ago an arbitrator deciding the dispute between the parties, granted an increase of wages and an eight-hour-day. The pressmen, however, demanded that after the papers were run off the presses, and there was nothing for them to do, they should be permitted to go home, even though their eight hours’ duty was not yet complete. The publishers declared that since they payed for eight hours labour, they should have the right to demand the presence of the pressmen, even if they were idle, especially with the possibility of extra editions.

The pressmen to-night indulged in sabotage, stripping al Ithe presses of stereotyped plates, made during the early evening, just before quitting the pressrooms. The Times hopes to secure a very limited edition with the possibility of an eight-page paper. The superintendent of the mechanical department is running the press, and journalists are setting the type.