Jewish Cemeteries Hit by Strike

Thirteen Jewish cemeteries were among the 47 cemeteries in the New York metropolitan area hit today by a strike of 1700 members of the Cemetery Workers and Green Attendants Union, Local 365. Rabbi Samuel Schrage announced today that an Emergency Committee for Jewish Burial has been set up to help bereaved families bury their dead. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he and Shlomo Drimmer, president of the Committee, met with Sam Cimaglia, union president, and received permission for members of the families of the deceased, volunteers and friends to dig graves. Rabbi Schrage noted that the union agreed because Jewish religious law requires the dead to be buried within 24 hours.

“Because many of the deceased are elderly, and because they have no relatives who are physically capable of digging graves with the blunt instruments required to do the operation, the Committee is organizing squads of volunteers to help,” Rabbi Schrage said. Those who wish to help the bereaved families can call (212) 773-8483 and ask for either Rabbi Schrage or Drimmer. The situation is especially acute. Rabbi Schrage said, because of the hot weather.

The last cemetery strike occurred in the winter of 1970 and held up 15,000 burials, with cemeteries storing bodies in sealed coffins in storage tents. The union is currently seeking a $12 weekly wage increment in each year of a three year contract in addition to fringe and pension benefits, Cimaglia said. The union leader stated that the union and management officials last met two weeks ago in an effort to break the deadlock but that there has been no movement toward a settlement. In 1970, the strike lasted eight weeks.