The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-02

driving or truck brakes, stripping en-
glnes for back shops, or the assem-
and other general work, can in gem
eral be done by men who have not
learned the machinist trade.
RULE Y.
Handy men, helpers and laborers, SHAH
not pc advanced to the detriment OF ma
chinists or apprentices. Handy men, now
IN the past and after working tour years
continuous service as a handy man, at
the class Of work he is now employed. ne
shsll receive the minimum rate OF pay
paid to the machinists in that locality,
but when their positions become vacant,
they shall be filled by machinists
This rule is objectionab BILE. The COM
pany must and Will reserve the right
to employ men to perform certain
work in accordance With their attain
ments. A man may run machine
for four years, and still be incapable
of performing the general duties of a
machinist. In equity and reason, he
is not entitled to the full machinist
rate, no matter how long he has run
the machine Nor can the company
agree that the places now filled by
men of this character, shall, upon be-
coming vacant. be given to fuI-pa ID
machinists. The provisions of rules
four and five, again completely con-
tradict the statement made by Mr..
Roderick (pages ID and I'D, to the
effect that it is not the intent under
these rules to increase the rates, re-
cause an increased compensation
amounts to the same thing as an in
crease in rates. The company will
always reserve the right, which It I'M
doubtedly, possesses and of which It
can not be dispossessed, of employing
men with reference to the work to be
performed, and to pay them in ac-
crodance with the equitable rates that
prevail at the time of their employ
ment.
RULE vi.
''One apprentice may be employed in
each shop irrespective of the number of
machinists employed. and not more than
one additional apprentice shall be employ
ed to every rve machinists, to be based on
ed in each shop. This ratio not to affect
apprentices already in the service
This company viii never be a party
to general arrangement for the cur
tailment of the education of the sons
of its machinists or other employees,
or the people in the various cornmunf-
ties traversed by its lines. The ragio
of apprentices TO machinists should
vary according to the character of the
shops There are some shops in when
conditions are such that no apprcn-
tees can be employed, either with
profit to themselves from the stand
point of experience, or to the employ
ing company. There are others where
a very considerable number Of ma
chine tools are used, which afford an
excellent opportunity for the educa-
ton of these young men. 1t is racog-
nized that the object of this clause is
to limit the number of men that can
come into the trade from apprentice
ships. The right of your organization,
or any other, to impose conditions of
this kind upon an employing com
pany, is not recog nized, nor will it be
conceded.
RULE VII.
ANY. apprentice hereafter engaging
himself to learn the machinist's trade,
shall be between the ages of 16 and q
years, and shall serve four years of not
nnT dax 7 To CHI -.
no case leave the service Of the company
without just and sufficient cause
Our present practice conforms
strictly with the provisions of this
rule.
THE wage scale to all machinist appren-
per hour; second year, 121z cents. per hour;
for the first six months of the third year,
of the third year, l1l2 cents per hour; for
the first six months of the fourth year,
221a cents per hour; for the last six
months of the fourth year. 271a cents per
hour. Apprentices shall be Instructed in
all branches Of the trade, if retained; his
time shall start immediately upon his
time of going to work in the shop, and he
shall be granted his apprentices creden>
tials on going to work. If. after serving
six months, he shows no aptitude to learn
the trade he shall be dismissed or trans
ferred'
Again is Mr.. Roderick's statement,
that it is not the intent to ask for in
creased compensation, refuted by the
provisions of this proposed rule. The
company feels that it is already pay
ing the apprentices literally. If 1t
were not doing so the fact would be
evidenced by a falling off in the sup
ply. 1t is possible that slightly bet
ter rates of compensation, and
closer culling of material, would be
beneficial, but this is a matter, the
consideration of which is, and must
continue to be. vested solely in the
executive officers of this company.
An apprentice should be granted his
credentials when he is regularly ap-
pointed and enters upon his appren-
ticeship-not when he goes to work
for in some cases it may be mutually
the apprentice, to have a probationary
period before the indentures are
drawn.
RULE TX
''No machinist- or appretice shall be dis
charged or suspended without just and
sufficient cause. If discharged, a clear
ance shall be given, showing the actual
cause of dismissal. and it, after proper
investigation, it has been found a ma
chinist or apprentice has been discharged
or suspended unjustly. he shall be REIN
stated with full pay for time lost; the in
after discharge or suspension.
THE shop committee have power to act
and treat with the management in re-
gard to such cases.
power to act in conjunction with tho
shop committee.
1t is the present custom and prac-
tice to give employees service letters
when the length of service is sufficient
to warrant it. In case of discharge,
if the dismissed employee complains
and it is found that his complaint is
warranted and dismissal was not, the
error is corrected. While it is pro-
posed to give every employe every
facility for the rectifcation of errors
in the matter of discipline, amount of
com pensation based on time worked,
etc, in view of the fact that it is
within the experience of the officers of
our mechanical department, that shop
operation has at times practically
49,