The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-17
STRIKE MAY COME,
Things Are Getting
Near the Danger
Mark.
LOCAL MEN WOULD Be IN IT.
Telegraphers' Demands on
Consolidated and Boston
and Maine Systems.
LOCAL MEN WOULD Be IN IT.

1t looks as though the demands of
telegraphers on the New York, New
Haven and Hartford and Boston and
Maine Railroad systems must be con-
coded or railroad magnates will have
on their hands, a general strike effect
ing every employee.
The Order of Railway Photographers
has taken up the case and is pressing
the arrangements of the roads into an
adjustment of what the telegraphers
consider grievances. Many of the big
roads in this country and Canada have
adopted the same schedule of prices the
New England employees are clamoring
for.
The principal demands of the teleg-
raphers are for minimum wage rate
of 81 per day.. a days work of a fixed
number of hours with pay for over
time. 1t is said that many of the men
Who are entitled to be classified as ex-
perienced telegraphers receive wages
varying from $50 to $40 per month. The
working day of many of the men is
said to begin at o'clock in the morning
and extend until late in the evening
About 10 local employees of the New
Haven road belong to the Order of Rail-
way Photographers, by reason of tower
service on crossings. The Boston and
Maine Railroad has local men in it's
employ in the tower service between
this city and Nashua. Between Nash
VA and Portland on the Boston and
Maine line, the telegrapherS are said
to be freighted with grievances that
cannot be subdued without an adjust
ment of the present wage and working
hours schedule.
Local members of the order have re-
ceived information to the effect that
unless the railroad magnates recede
from their present position, a general
strike, will be ordered within three
weeks. The New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad has narrowly
averted strike of freight handlers, but
| the employees have not been made to
feel satisfied that the road recognizes
and appreciates their peace efforts
Local employees of the roads say that
| attempts at arbitration have been fu-
| tile. The arrangements of the two roaes
refuse to recognize organizations of
employees, to sign contracts, or to treat
with them collectively in any way
The officials of the roads say that they
are willing to take up individual grew
ances. The men say this method is
not success because of the red tape
that each man would have to wade
through provided he explained why he
is dissatisfied.
Telegraphers on the Boston and Maine
system are almost unanimous in favor
Of ordering a strike at once, but a full
canvass of the employees of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford rail
road has not been made. The executive
committee of the American Federation
of Railway Employees will endeagor to
settle the trouble, and, failing in this.
as they probably will, the advisahility
of ordering. a general strike will be
discussed.
The federation includes the Order Of
Railway Telegraphers, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen, Order of Railway
Conductors, and the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, the last order in
Guiding brakemen, switchmen, bag
gage masters, yardmen and others en-
ployed in minor capacities The freight
handlers and locomotive engineers are
not included in the federation, but both
are strongly organized and have diff
ferences with their employers which
have not been satisfactorily adjusted,
so that their sympathy at least, could
be counted upon in the advent of
strike by order of the federation.
Every organization on the Boston
and Maine railroad, made up of en-
ployes, has tried it's hand within the
past few weeks of having grievances
adjusted, but officials of the road have
given little satisfaction. Local en-
pIoyes of the road say that every eff
fort has been made to avert q strike,
but that employees are possessed of
more than an ordinary amount of de-
termination in the present case, oe-
cause they consider that the officials
have snubbed them by refusing-to cor
fer with them relative to settlement
of the difficulties.
A general strike of members Of the
federation on the Boston and Maine
and New York, New Haven and Hart |
ford systems, would mean that Wor-
cester would be seriously affected Ly
the tie-up. The Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen has local lodge, the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmon
two, and scores Of local employees are
members of orders included in the fed
Grafton. A we'll known railroad man,
in conversation with The Spy man last
night, said that at least 200 Worcester
men would be involved in the strike,
should it be brought about by the per-
sistency Of the railroad magnates in
refusing to have the matter adjusted
by an arbitration board, and agreeing
to abide by the decision rendered.