New-York tribune., 1886-02-01
TALKING Of A GREAT STRIKE.

PENNSYLVANIA EMPLOYEES OPPOSE THE RELIEF
FUND-FoRTY THOUSAND MEN INVOLVED.
The new insurance scheme which the Penn
syvana Railroad Company has adopted Tor the Osteh-
sble benefit OF its employees has excited almost
universal antagonism among the men, They refuse TO
be convinced that is for their benefit and declare hat
on the contrary. 1t is covert attack upon them with
the Interior purpose OF breaking up their protective
organizations, more especially the Brother
hoods OF Locomotive Engineers and Loco
motive Firemen. Three meetings OF
employees were held IN Jersey City yesterday one of
locomotive engineers IN their hall over the Bee hive
Bank at Plymouth Washington sts one of locomo-
tv, 6remeu at Union Hall. Fourth and Grove sts and
the third OF brakemen In Roches Hall, at Grove and
Morgau-sts The meetings were called for the purpose
OF discussing the scheme aud were held in secret
hat IL was ascertai1ed that each meeting was
unanimous In opposition TO the pan
and that It was vigorously denounced. H. was
also tacltly agreed that IL the company insists
upon their employees becoming members OF the Relief
Fund general strike will be the result which will be
participated IN by tine cOmpaDys 10000 employees be-
tween Jersey City and PitIsburg. The men advance
ssyera objections In the first place they claim that the
compulsory contributions to the Relief Fund Will be
pracca reduction OF their since. II man Is dis
charged or resigns from employ Of the company he
forteits all he has paid into the fund. Then'
agulu employees, when they become members,
are required 70 sign contract that they VIII
accent the OF the insurance I'm lieu OF any dam
ages which they might sustain from accidents ana
ust neither they their bsnchclares Will sue tue com
pany. ~, -.. za..,u,..,o, ,ro,,
The coupauys heaauurters in Phlade phIa on January
"a after mad approved by the Board or Directors
I'm the explanatory circular II was stated that the com
many win be tue trustee OF the fund and responsible
therefor IL will pay any gehcencles that may arise
from The fund not being able u meet thc
demands upon 1t; manage the department; pay tue
operstng peuses aud provide the services OF Oceis
and AGENT, without charge upon tic fund. Every em-
ploye OF company required to become uenDer as
condition OF his continuance IN the cOmpanys serVlce
Ne,nbrrs will be divided live classes comprising
thosc who receive less than S3j month; $50 anu not
more than $50 a month"; 500 aud not more than T9O
mouth; $50 aud not than 500 month and thO.e
rreriyK over 500 The highest amount oi insurance Is
- 500 aud to DciOng that class a man must give
ai - monthly uf his salary or SlOO The amount
of annual premium wULd be $40 whcn tho men con
slder A nigh rate for 300 pOlcy, much hlRher tnt
that nt which their own organizations insure lneu.
Thtu there SICK benefits nitl-ctss man wuO Oe-
comes disabled viii be cutted TO receive - % uay
exrlldug Sundays and Tor not longer than htty-two
weeks Another objection Is that man VINO
gpts 500 "a month IL required TO pay Just "a
much ~ one gets 500 month. The EN-,
nlnves thInk II no advantage that they Will be allowed
rsnrosentAtiycs IN the Board OF MANAGEMENT Tor the
rson thar their representatives would s be employees
and THEREFOR woud scarcely dare to oppose tue wI o
t,e lirroor- OF the company. The men seem to be al
uut unanimously opposed the scheme, and threaten
maj genera. strike I'm bo the result Of It's enforcement
bnt there ampe time discuss the subject III all us
b.driug. IN the SIX months which Will eapse before the
N, helne goes iutU e1cCl.