New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-25
A BIG LABOR FEDERATION.
ALL RAILROAD MEN UNITING IN ONE OR
GANIZATION.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT SIGNED by THE
CHIEFS OF THE ENGINEERS AND FIRE
MEMS BRoTHERHOODs-A BIG FUND
BACK OF THE MOVEMENT-THE
PLAN OF UNION


sltion which was made at the mass-meeting of the
BrotberLoods OF Locomotive Engineers and Fire
men held in the Grand Opera House in New-York
| on Sunday, June "a, TO magamate all labor Or
sanizations connected with railroad service, and
thus form what will probably be the largest labor
organization in the world. was consummated here
on Saturday last by the signing of the articles of
| confederation of an association of the Brother
hoods of Locomotive Engineers and Fremen, and
the Switchmens and Brakemens Unions. The
Union of Railroad Conductors, if they have not
already signed the articles of confederation, will
undoubtedly do so. The proposal to form this
union CT railroad employees published exclus vely
in The Tribune on Monday, June 25, the out
como Of the prolonged and persistent struggle be-
tween the engineers on the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad and the officials of that road.
| WIDE TERRITORY REPRESENTED.
The subject was fully discussed at the New-YorS
mass meeting referred to, and met with the unani-
nous approval of the men present, who represented
lines extending from San Francisco to Boston, and
from Canada to Mexico the railroads which are
owned and controlled by American capital in
tine latter country being represented at the meet
| ing. The question was referred for decision to
INVENTION of Railroad Employees,
which has been in session for the last week in this
city.
Grand Master F. Sa-scnt and Vice-Grand
Master IIannaban represented the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Fremcn at the convention of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers, which held
its first session on the 18th instant in this city
while Grand Secretary and Treasurer Il. V. Debs,
Editor Of The Firemen's Magazine" represented
the Switchmcn's and Firemen's Unions at the
Brakcmens Union Convention which opened in
Columbus Ohio. on the same dav. The fact of the
| hain ~ hot
| the same day was not explained by the delegate
seen here. but it was stated that after the meeting
in Columbus the delegates mentioned came i'm
medatelv to Richmond with full power to in
| dorSe the formation of the National federation.
ARTICLES OF FEDERATION SIGNED
1t was learned. however that the articles of
| federation were signed in this city on Saturday
by Chief Arthur. OF the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers. Grand Master F. r. Sargent, of
the Firemen's Union. and Grand Organizer Bailey
of the Switchmen's and Brakemens Unions The
conductors, as stated will join the federation, and
all employees of ralrcad companies have been asked
TO Join irrespective of the positions in which they
are employed. 1t is said that the telegraph OPP
orators along the railroad lines viii also be rep
resented in the federation.
1t was asserted last night at Ford's Hotel in
this city, that the Philadelphia and Reading Rail
sence to Engineer Frederick Cobson, of Division
No 321. to attend the convention here to which he
had been elected delegate by tn engineers on that
road. This action the part of the company
net with loud denuncatons from the convent on, as
/ arbitrary and unjust Bitter feelings were also
expressed against the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, which controls the Pan Handle road. for
It's treatment of the men who were on strike on
the Pan Handle system at the beginning of the
strike on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy road.
The Pan Handle men withdrew their claims tenn
porarily and went to work again for the Penn
syvania road on the understanding that
when the "Q7 strike finally adj
iusted their demands would be satisfied,
and the company, 1t is maintained since getting
the men to work again, has made no effort to
redress lis employees alleged wrongs. The dele
gates here have strong feelings against the Read
ing and Pennsylvania roads, ana as soon as the
federation is completed decisive action Is threat
cned against these roads by the men.
WHAT THE NEW ORDER WILL BE CALLED.
IT is understood that the title of the new or
ganization will be " The National Federation of
Railroad Employees in the Transportation Depart
men,,7 and according to the articles of agreement
each Brotherhood Union of railroad employees
viii elect one delegate TO represent its own body
i'm a general council. This board will receive from
all divisions, or lodges, OF engineers, nrelnel,
swichmcn. brakcmcn etc. any complaint or Griev-
against the company by which the man IS en-
ployed. The board. council, viii th,n consider
The grievance. and will direct the body engineers
rcintn. others rs the cdSc may Oc NdJ dctlOu
10 take in the matter
In cases where it is considered that an employc
has been unlustly or severely treated, me or
eanization 10 which the complainant belongs
will he directed to request his reinstatement or
the redress of the wrong complained Of and IN
the event OF this request being refused, Will, |
with the sanction OF the council, order . strike
of those men employed in the same organization !
that road, /. e. of engineers, II their brother
hood is aggricvcd of iiremcn if one of their union
is the complainant, and so on. The strike Is to
be confined L. that organization solely in which |
the complainJ lies, 50 long as no scab Labor IS
in the event of scabs7 being taken on to fill the
vacant places, all the employees on the road Will
be ordered ont and . total and positive tle-up OF
the road Will be ordered.
PLENTY OF MONEY BEHIND THE ORDER.
TIL financial basis of the Federation will, APP
parcntly he sound, as the agreement |
provides for pooling Of all re-
serve funds OF the various organizations
comprising the new organization, and it is said that
the fund already paid in from this source aggre-
Gates over $500 600 irrespective of arrears OF sub
scriptions and the balances now standing TO the |
credit of organizations which have not yet made |
returns of their accounts. The BIotherhoods OF
Engineers and Firemcn have PAID toward the sup |
port Of the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy strikers
- per man month since the beginning OF the |
strike, and Chief Arthur, OF the Engineers, an |
nounccd here to the Federation that 90 per cent !
Of that assessment had been pad without drawing |
upon their reserve fund up to this time. The |
Federation unanimously passed resolution to |
support the Chicago, Darlington and Quincy strlk-
els until their wrongs are redressed
4 TALK WITH ONE OF THE LEADERS HERE. |
SURPRISED THAT ANYTHING WAS KNOWN ABOUT |
IT-sIGNIFIcANT REPLIES.
icoCrand Moster Iobn I ITannalan. NJ thc |