Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-01
BURT TALKS STRIKE
Union Pacific President Discusses Trouble
with the Nachinists.
ASSERTS THAT MEN ARE UNREASONABLE
Insists that They Have No Good Foundation
for Complaint,
SAYS PIECE WORK SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE
Argues that 1t Places Each Workman on
His Merits.
'YS PIECE WORK SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE
He WANTS NO DRoNEs IN THE SHOPS
Prefers Not to Employ Men whose
skill and Industry Cannot Bring
More Wages Under
PiecewoFk Plan.

NhlOu QeslTeb 10 treat
employees, all Of them, with the utmost
consideration and whenever they come to
us with reasonable proposition they will
get fair treatment, but when they make
unreasonable demands we must resist them
and will resist them"
This statement was made by President
H. G. Burt of the Union Pacific railroad
company TO a reporter for The Bee yester-
day morning. Continuing Mr.. Burt said:
These men are injuring their interests
by striking. The Union Pacific pays its
machinists and boilermakers more money
than any other western road with the ex-
ception OF the Southern Pacific. Our scale
is 10 per cent In advance of the other
companies and still these men come to us
for an additional 10 per cent increase. We
cannot and will not grant such demands.
Insists on Piecework.
This question OF an increase In wages
was the first demand made by the machin-
lists and the second was that the company
should not adopt the piecework system.
Now this question OF piecewc-tS IA a ques-
tion of management and we propose, while
we have no desire to impose on our en-
ployes, to carry on the management Of our
own affairs. Don't you think we ought
to have the right to govern our own busi-
ness?"
Now, these men say TO US: we know
you are paying high wages, but we ought
to have an increase because the cost OF
living has increased
Certainly the cost OF living has in
creased, but the cost OF everything else
has likewise increased. The cost Of rail-
roading has increased 80 per cent within
the last few years and yet the railroads
have made no reduction in the wages
Of their employees. The piecework scale
which We shall put into effect tomorrow,
July l, will Lot reduce wages one particle.
In many cases It will increase wages.
Places WOrkmen on Merits.
'It will simply place every man upon his
merits as workman; of course, as a
matter OF fact. some of the less skillfuI
will not make as much as they have been
getting on the basis OF the daily wage.
but are we to be censured for that? Is
1t right for any man to ask for more money
than he is actually worth or can earn7
Isn't that a reasonable proposition?
mo. sir, whenever any machinist or
! helper says that he will be imposed on by
accepting the piecework scale he Is mis-
| taken"
| At this juncture a telegram was brought
| in to General Manager Dickinson, in whose
private of1ce the interview took place.
The message was from Armstrong and said
| that the men who had remained at work
under the piecework scale are highly
gratiied with the results; that they are
already making 7-1O per cent more than
they did under the old system.
And we have the same report from all
places where piecework has been accepted, 4"
interjected President Burt, with the assent
of Mr.. Dickinson.
Making More Money.
why" continued the president, right
here in Omaha those men who are now
working under the piecework scade have
emphatically stated that they are better
satisfied with 1t than they were with the
daily wage scale because they are actually
making more money than before.
Now, In all candor, does this not seem
like a reasonable proposition and does 1t
not appear unreasonable for the machinista
and boilermakers to strike because we
want the piecework scale enforced? These
are the really vital sides of this contro-
versy."
1t was suggested to President Burt that
the unions complained that their constitu-
tions would not allow them % accept the
piecework scale.
"Oh, yes, I know they have put such a
clause in their constitution. but. we'll even
that does not destroy the force of proven
facts. In every case where the piecevors
scale is in force men are elated with the
operation"
Afraid of misrepresentation.
President Burt took occasion to pay his
respects to the press by saying
Suppose l make a statement 70 you,
| what will you do with Il.
print IT," was the quick response.
"Yes, print 1t. and If you do print II al
I give Il, you will then, or at least your
editorial writer's will then surround It with
innuendoes and insinuations designed Il
destroy the real meaning and give room
for misconstruction. That has been thS
policy OF the papers. II ! thought the
papers would publish the facts as they
are / would gladly make out a statement
OF the companys side Of the case, but
what's the use?
What the papers want TO bear IN mind
is this: The railroads are not seeking L
be unfair and in this strike matter VI
want to be just and equitable; all we asl
is that we be accorded fair treatment. w.
are not trying to tear down this com
munity, but on the other hand we are
striving and have striYen for years to built
II up, to promote Its welfare in ever,
respect and It is an injustice TO US to mis-
eonstrue our motives in this or any otheI
| matter.
Prefers Union Men.
"And It has been stated in some quarters
that the Union Pacific is down on the
unions-is trying to stamp out unionism
That Is a mistake. We have no fght with
! unionism and absolutely no desire OF intsn'
tion OF suppressing them or injurinK thetl
influence"
mo" interposed General Manager Dickin
son, I'VE really prefer TO deal with unioI
men. We have dealt with them for year
and shown no disposition to antagoniz
them that have ever heard Of"
President Burt was asked II the com
pany would reinstate any or all Of the mel
now out on a strike II they consented to re
turn to work on the company's terms. III
made this reply
'sWell, We viii think about that awhile