The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-12-17
SWISS RAILROADS ARE
AGAINST. LONG HOURS
Hours Of Labor of Railroads
Are Restricted By Laws of
This Little Republic.
Employees Of Swiss Railroad
Are Well Organized and Re-
ceive Good Pay.

In Switzerland, where some OF the
railways are owned and operated by
the government and the rest are d.
rectly under government supervision,
the position of the railway worker is
superior to that of his brother rail-
roader in other European countries.
The hours of labor on Swiss railways
are regulated by law. The law pro-
'vides that no railway employe shall
work more than eleven hours a day.
except In cases Of great emergency,
and in departments other than the
train service the workday Is still
shorter Tho law also provides that
each employe shall be allowed fifty
two days Of rest, not loss than seven
teen Of which shall be Sundays, in each
year. No deduction in wages on &C.
count OF these rest days is permitted.
The law holds the railway companies
liable for injury to employees, except
In carelessness upon the part Of the
injured, and no sort Of legal humbug
can deprive those entitled to penalties
OF their rights. Legal provision is also
made for the relief of the sick and SUI
peranuted. Faithful employees cannot
be thrown out of work empty-handed
when they reach the age of thirty-five
or forty years, as certain railway cor
porations in this country will treat
their employees hereafter.
The employees of the railways of
Switzerland are well organized, though
they are not as yet all united under
one banner. The greatese organization
Is the Union of Swiss Train Employees.
This union, which was formed in
1885, takes care of its members in times
of sickness, accident and old age. It
also gives assistance to it's members
in case of litigation. Peculiar provi-
sions governing membership in this
union are that only those who have
passed the age Of thirty-hve years may
be admitted, and then only during the
first five years of regular service. A
member changing his occupation, or
for other reasons leaving the railway
service, has the option of retaining his
connection with the union. Owing to
these conditions the Union of Swiss
Train Employees would not be consid-
cred strictly as a trade union by the
unionists of this country. Yet in sew
eral strikes the Swiss union has shown
that it is more than fraternal and
benevolent order.
Another important organization,
which is not exclusive as the one just
considered, Is the Union of Swiss Rail-
way and Steamboat Employees: Any
one actively engaged at railroading on
the Swiss railways is admitted to this
union by the payment of the initiation
fee. And this organization under
takes more than the other in the line
Of trade union policies and TASTES.
The third organization OF Swiss rail-
way men Is a sort of federation of the
two mentioned. It Is known as the
Federation Of Employees Of Swiss
Transportation Institutions. It's pur-
pose Is to unite for active work the
other organizations. 1t deals with the
wages and hours questions and all mat
tiers related to the condition of railway
employment.
Two notable victories have been won
by the organized railroaders of Swift
zerland. In 1897 a strike ON one of the
principal lines for higher wages and
better condition ended with success on
the side Of the. workers . In 1903
through the power OF their unions. the
cured a general Improvement of con-
ditions without resorting to a strike.
The success achieved by the railway
unions, Of Switzerland has given in
SEPARATION to the friends OF unionism.
generally, and, as = consequence or
sganization Will go forward with in~
creased. activity e IS man Industrial
lines.
He BEST n. s;Init "a, Candies
Superior 81.