Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-26
Plans to Organize Various Depart
ments Of Railroad Service.
BETTER WAGE SCALES ONLY OBJECT
Freight Handlers, Station Men and
Other Employees to Join Trackmen
in Union Acknowledgements
Now Working in State.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
1t appears that the section men on
the various Iowa railroads are not
alone in their wishes to organize
unions for the purpose of securing a
wage scale proportionate with the in
creases which have been secured by
the engine and trainmen through af-
filiation with their respective organiza-
tons. 1t transpires that the freight
handlers, station men and other en-
ployes have also the same bee buzz
ing in their bonnets, and that steps are
being taken to organize the various
branches of the railroad service. 1t is
said that matters are shaping them
selves for conflict between the rail-
roads of the state and organized labor
within the next few months and union
men will watch with interest the out
come.
Men are now at work in the state
organizing the freight handlers, and
a life sized movement is on for the
organization of station agents and
station employees, which has already
resulted in one local. with headquar-
tiers in Des Moines. The freight han
dlers are affiliating with the trades
and labor assemblies. The probabili-
ties are the station agents and en-
ployes will not affiliate, but will sus-
tain amicable relations with the older
railroad orders. In the same connec-
ton it has developed that train bag
gage men and train express messen-
gers, with the office employees of the
express companies, are also organic
ing, and that an application has been
made from Des Moines for charter
! for the initial organization, which will
| have over eighty charter members.
Heretofore station agents, where
they serve in the dual capacity of op-
orators, and are affiliated with the tel
egraphers' organization, have had no
unions, and the same is true of bag
gage and express men, and the
| freight handlers of the trans Mississip.
pi territory.
Organizing BY Divisions.
| The station men are organizing by
divisions, much as do the conductors
! firemen, ETC. Locals are being organ
lied by the other branches. Organic
ers are working in all parts of the
state, and only recently have perfect,
ed preliminary work on a number OF
trunk lines. At Sioux City, employees
of lines centering there have made ap
plications for charters, and similar ac
ton has ben taken in Des Moines,
Davenport, Council Bluffs and Omaha
Rock Island and at Cedar Rapids. The
larger points disposed of, the organic
ers will go to the smaller division
points.
No secret is made of the work in
progress, and it is generally admitted
/ that the organizations are not for the
purpose of providing insurance. or OF
a fraternal character. but are intended
to place the employees in a position
to insist upon an increase in wages
i paid them proportionate to the increas
es already granted employees in othel
branches of the service.
Report has it that the railroads are
not opposing the movement at this
time, and have not manifested hostilit,
4 toward it. There is one express com
i pany though, that has made objection
and has threatened to replace its EN-
4 ployes joining the organization will
new men.