The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-22
RAILROAD NEWS.
Circular Issued by Santa Fe
Strikers at Cleburne
Gives Their Reasons For Leav-
ing Their Work.
mIIINU ANN
THEY DISCRIMINATE
Alleged That Santa Fe Has
Violated Agreement.
Discharged an Employe Because
He Did Committee Work.

When the machinistS in the Cleburne-
Texas, shops of the Santa Fe went out
on strike about two weeks ago there
was some difficulty in securing a defin-
lite statement regarding their reason for
quitting. Mechanical Superintendent
Symons at once told the company's side
of the story, which was printed in the
State Journal of few DAYS ago.
Mechanical Superintendent SymOns
claimed, it will be remembered. that
certain union man was discharged be-
cause he refused to change from one
machine to another, the pay and general
requirements being the same in each
position. The reason for the change, as
given by Mr.. Symons. was that this
man had so many outside engagements
in committee work for the union that
he was irregular at his shop duties and
that the company could not afford to
keep changing men on the particular
machine wherein the man was en-
gagged.
Now the craftsmen have stated their
case to the outside word in the form of
a printed circular. as follows:
To the Public:
In order that our neighbors and friends
in Cleburne and the general public may
know the true cause of our present
trouble with the company we, the com
mittee appointed by the Machinists' I'M
ion of Cleburne desire to make the fol-
lowing statements, every assertion of
which can be proven and as to the
truth of which affidavits without end
can be obtained if necessary.
The first article of the agreement be-
! tween the men of the mechanical de-
| partment of the Santa Fe railway and
| lows:
| Rule 1. Employees shall receive fair
and impartial treatment We claim
| that this rule has been violated in the
| fact that an emDlOye. a member Of our
organization was Disseminated against
| in being removed from his place Of
| work without any charge being brought
| against him further than that he had
! been too active in committee work, -
when the employe in question had never
| been absent from his machine except
| upon permission from his foreman. and
with his wages deducted for absence
and with transportation furnished by
| the company official.
| Rule reads as follows: ~'Rule 2 ANY
| employee feeling that he or they have
| been unfairly dealt with or discrimina-
| ted against shall have their grievances,
adjusted by the head of the department
and a committee of employees" We
! claim that this rule has been violated
| in the fact that when the committee ap-
| pointed upon this rule called upon the
master mechanic and the mechanical
superintendent, their demands were not
| considered the statement being made
| that the company's representatives pro-
! posed to run the business to suit them
selves and not to suit the men, and If
they (Lue COIu1uICIe6J OF any OIu6F COI11-
pany employees did not like the treat
ment they received they We're at perfect
| liberty to quit.
| Rule reads as follows: ''Rule ST
| after investigation it is found that an
| employee has been discharged without
! just cause he shall be reinstated.'' This
| rule has been violated in the fact that
no investigation has been made by the
| officials except that one Of the officials
| stated to the comm ittee that they had
| already investigated the activity of the
| employee in question in his COMMITTEES
work
| Rule reads as follows: Rule 4
| Any differences that cannot be salts
| factorily adjusted at place of origin
J committee shall be furnished with
transportation to and from the place OF
final settlement and any committee Of
| employees shall have the assurance OF
| audience" We assert that this rule has
| been violated in the fact that the local
| officials instead of referring the matter
to the higher powers, declared all ne
| gotiations off and notified the men OF
| their summary dismissal from the con
pany'S service
The agreement from which these arti-
| cles are quoted was entered into be-
| tween the company and the men June
| 1, 1901, and was still in effect. 1t was
| signed for the company by John Player