Electrical Strike in Chicago

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 20, 25 January 1937, Page 8

Electrical Strike in Chicago

STREETS PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS. United Press Association—By Kisclrlc Received Sunday, 9.50 p.m. CHICAGO, Jan. 23. Most of the city streets were plunged into darkness when 450 city electrical workers struck for a restoration of their pay cuts. Their action extinguished all the street lights over more than half the city except on tho boulevards under the park district control It crippled the automobile traflic uud tram service. AJI but eighteen of the 58 bridges over tho Chicago river were raised. Only the five bridges directly servicing the business section remained in operation. Every member of the police force was ordered to remain on duty. Unless the demands are met the Union of Electrical Workers’ plans to cripple nearly all the city services by degrees as more men are called out on strike. The water system, police, radio and fire alarm services were given twenty-four hours' exemption while indefinite exemption is extended to airports and hospitals. Private buildings and residences are not affected. A later message stated that after paralysing the traffic for three hours the strike of electrical workers was called off under tho provisions of a temporary truce following the Mayor and aldermen agreeing to hear the grievances of the workers.