Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-04-16
AGREEMENT REACHED
Rock Island Road and Brakemen
Come to Understanding on
Rules and Wages.
COVERS EVERY POINT OF DUTIES

Priority of Service to Govern In Choice OF
Runs, Merit Being Equal, This Point to
be Determined by Trainmaster or Assis'
tant superintendent Investigation OF
Grievances. Etc.
Officers of the Rock Island railroad
company and brakemen employed on
that system have signed new agree
ment regarding wages and rules to
govern dismissals, grievances and
prom otions. though this company does
not recognize the Order of Railway
Trainmen, or any other order of en-
ployes.
The agreement covers every point
in connection with the service. 1t
starts with the statement that Prior
ity of service as brakeman shall gov
ern hereafter in all choice of runs,
merit being equal, merit being deter
mined by the trainmaster or assistant
superintendent"
Article 2 is probably the most i'm
portant to the men, as it bears on the
subject of suspension and dismissal.
On this point both parties agree:
That any brakemen who deems
that an injustice has been done him
shall, within ten days, make written
statement of the facts in the premises
to the trainmaster or assistant super
intendent. He may at the same time
designate as his representative any
other brakeman in the employ of the
company on the same division, and
the division superintendent, with the
trainmaster or assistant superintend-
ent, and the person aggrieved, with
his designated representative, shall
investigate the case. If their decision
is not satisfactory the brakema n
shall have the right of further appeal
to the officer next higher in rank, and
from him, in proper order, to the gen
eral manager.
To BE Paid For Lost Time.
when practicable, such investiga-
ton shall be made within five days o
the date of receipt of the brakeman
statement of grievance, and, if the
charges are not sustained, he shall be
reinstated and paid one-half time for
all lost time. No attention shall be
paid to any grievance unless presented
within 90 DAYS of the date of it's al
legged occurrence.
1T is understood that nothing in
this article will apply to cases of
brakemen dismissed for intemperance
or violation of other rules of the COM
pany.
mo action shall be taken detri
mental to a brakeman's interest, I'M
less based on written reports. A
brakeman's age in service shall be de-
termined by the date of his examina-
ton certificate. When a brakeman
leaves the service of the company he
shall be given letter signed and
stamped by the division superintend-
emit, which shall show time of SER
vice, in what capacity employed and
cause of leaving service, this letter to
be given within a reasonable time
after the brakeman has signed the
original letter."
Working Time Specified.
Regarding what shall constitute
days work, and time to be allowed
while attending to business for the
company, the agreement stipulates:
1.-The time of freight brakemen shall
be computed on the basis of 100 miles
or less for days work, and all time
made by them on the road between
terminal points in excess of 10 miles
per hour shall be overtime. No
brakeman shall be required to con-
tinue on duty when he reasonably
needs rest, but in extreme cases the
brakemen, on their part, will do all
in their power to assist the company.
when required by the company to
attend court they shall be paid at the
rate of 81 per day of "a hours, and
their necessary expenses during at
also for all time lost while
awaiting the company's orders. and
for such time as they may lose while
waiting to take their trains.
when extra brakemen are called
to attend court they shall be placed,
after release from such service, where
thew would have hean If not absent