Union and New York Jewish social agency spokesmen exchanged charges today as a strike of 1,000 employees against six of the agencies went into its second day in a complete deadlock.
The employees, comprised of social workers, psychologists, homemakers, clerical and secretarial workers and maintenance workers, struck the agencies after a joint committee made the union “a final offer.” They are members of the Community and Social Agency Employees Union, local 1707. AFL-CIO. The struck agencies, all constituents of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, are the Astro Health and Rehabilitation Services, Jewish Board of Guardians, Jewish Child Care Association, Jewish Community Services of Long Island, Jewish Family Service and Louise Wise Services.
A spokesman for the agencies joint committee said that “we feel we have made the most generous offer for a new contract of any industry in the United States.” He accused the union of failing to provide skeleton services for crisis cases among the retarded, ill and aged of the agencies’ cases.
A Union spokesman rejected the contention as to the value of the joint committee offer, charging that beginning scales for social workers offered were $200 a year below salaries for comparable levels paid by New York City. He also said that the union had offered in writing to provide emergency services and that the joint committee had ignored the offer. Both sides said they were standing pat and no new talks were scheduled.
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