[PRCo] Re: Pittsburgh Railways' 56-Day Strike Ends 12/9/57

[Fred Schneider]

How about that ... they struck for 448 hours and they received $62.72  
in return.   Somebody failed Econ 101.    Even with inflation at 10  
to 1 they still failed Economics 101.

On Apr 4, 2006, at 3:01 AM, Holland Electric Rwy. Op. H.E.R.O. --  
Import SPTC 1.48 Models // James B. Holland wrote:

> Good Evening, Everyone:
>
>             It was 48 years ago December 9 when Pittsburgh Railways  
> PCC
> streetcars ran again as the bitter 56-day strike was settled.  A 26
> cents hourly raise-- 14 cents now, 6 cents in December, 1958, and 6
> cents in March, 1959-- was the highlight of the 2-year contract with
> fringe benefits added.  Railways' President C.D. Palmer warned of  
> higher
> fares in the "not distant future" when he accepted the plan on Sunday,
> December 8, 1957, after the union overwhelmingly voted for it.  The
> compromise, as accepted, was put forward by Mayor David Lawrence,  
> civic
> leaders, and Federal mediators.
>
>             Pittsburgh-McKeesport route 56 (via Glenwood Bridge) was
> unable to open on Sunday, December, 9, 1957, as some poles needed
> replacement.  But the rest of the system was expected to be open for
> business at 5:00 that Monday morning.  The 2 Railways-owned inclines,
> Knoxville and Castle Shannon, were to be checked on the 9th and resume
> service on Tuesday, December 10.
>
>            Strike losses approximated $3,000,000 in company gross
> revenues, of which half would have been paid out in wages.  Downtown
> stores also lost much revenue.
>
>  From HEADWAY RECORDER, December, 1957, page 1.
>
>            Very Sincerely,
>
>            Dennis M. Linsky
>
>
>
> Jim__Holland
>
>
> I__Like__Ike.......And__PCCs!!
>
> down with pantographs ---- UP___WITH___TROLLEYPOLES!!!!!!!
>
>