Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-18
WILLTHEY T|E|T UP2
That's What Extra Gripmen
and Conductors Threaten
ON CITIZENS CABLE LINE.
Their Wages Said to Be 10 Cents an
Hour Below Their Mark.
SEVENTY OF THEM ARE UNIONISTS.
Superintendent Werner Refers to an Agree.
ment Upon the Point,
ON CITIZENS CABLE LINE.
SEVENTY OF THEM ARE UNIONISTS.
AND SAYS LET THEM TIE IF NEED BE

A veritable storm of excitement and in
dignation broke out among the extra con-
ductors and gripmen of the Citizens Trac-
tion line yesterday which, seemingly, if
they speak truly, bodies a still larger storm,
if Developments continue TO end that way.
Indeed, there is prospect that such may be
the case.
To-day is the first payday since the new
ll-hour schedule went into effect, which was
agreed to by the joint committees of the
men and the company, two weeks ago, and
divided the men into three sections, with II
hours of continuous duty each, and fixing
the wages of the conductors at 81 and grip
men at 81 %.
The extra men had been receiving 35
cents for each trip, and were to be provided
for on the new schedule, as a conductor
stated to a DISPATCH reporter last night,
'on an equal with the regular men; and be-
sides this, they promised they would do well
by u.s."
As learned last night, it seems that the
paymaster and clerk had been out to the
East End in the afternoon, and first told
Mr.. Sweitzer, the gripman, that the extra
conductors on the East End division were
to get only % cents per trip and the grip
men 2S, and the Butler street division con-
ductors were to receive 20 cents and grip
men p cents.
SPREAD LIKE wILDFIRE.
From the East End this vital news trav-
eled from mouth to mouth all along the
line. One conductor said, with a look of
fight in his eye:
care YOU a reporter? If you are L
want to tell you that there is going
to be big tear-up Monday,
if what we heard out the road is true. We
are only waiting for tomorrow to verify it,
and, if it is true, you want to look out. We
only make five trips day, at % cents
trip. Chinese wages? Certainly. The
Butler division crews make usually seven
trips. Besides that we go on at 8 P. NJ,
until u o'clock and get the worst hours.
"They never told us how much we were
to get under the new schedule, but said
they would place US on an equal with the
regular men.
"We will have a meeting Monday, il it is
true, and, if we don't have better arrange
ments, will certainly tie the road up. There
are Is each of conductors and gripmen on
the East End division, and 20 of each on
the Butler street division, making so men,
with only seven or eight non-union men,
and they will stand by u.s."
The 11-hour rule with the regulars is not
quite satisfactory, either, it seems; as some
of them work 11H and some 11% hours,
which is making some dissatisfaction.
THE SUPERINTENDENT VERY FIRM.
Superintendent Murray Werner was seen
by the reporter, and asked if the rates
stated above were to be given the men, and
vas also told what had been stated as above.
He said:
81 never figured it up; but, by the agree
ment made with the committee of the men,
two weeks ago, the extra men were to re-
ceive pay by the trip, In the same ratio as
the regular men. suppose the paymaster
has figured it out
"Well, Mr.. Werner" said the reporter,
"the men say they will tie the road up, if
they are correctly informed"
LET them tier was the reply. "We
know of nothing but the agreement we
made with the men, and 1 have nothing
further to say. In regard to that l refer
you to the Chairman of their committee"
When asked if the conductors wages
would be raised to 81 % to compare with the
Fifth avenue lines men Mr. Werner said no
such demand had been made; but he would
not state further.
However, it is the policy of the mems
committee to not make a demand,
but simply state their desires,
because, thus far, that has been enough to
gain their ends. Several of the men stated
yesterday that it was a pretty sure thing
that they would get the desired raise.