Albuquerque evening citizen., 1905-08-28
SANTA FE BLACKSMITHS
MAY GO ON STRIKE
That is What the Leaders
Say Will Happen on
September
BONUS SYSTEM CAUSES TROUBLE

Unless the prevailing conditions at
the Santa Fe shops are changed and
the company does away TO some eX-
tent at least, with the bonus system
the union blacksmiths over the line
will go on a strike about September l,
say the officials of the unions already
on a strike. In fact, the men are now
leaving the shops and are seeking en-
ployment with other roads, thus get
ting ahead of the strike ordem The
bone of contention between the COM
pany and the blacksmiths is what is
generally known as the bonus system.
This is a system whereby the men are
paid for days work and then receive
extra pay, or a bonus, for all work
done over that amount. The company
contends that the system makes it
possible for ambitious men to earn
extra money for the support of their
family, but the men look at the mat
ter differently and say that it ulti-
mately means a reduction in their
wages.
The bonus system was the cause Of
the boilermakers going out on a strike
four months ago and seems to be OBJ
jectionable to all the classes of labor
ing men at the shops. some time ago
the local union passed over its author
ity to the executive council now in
session at Chicago and no action, as
far as learned, has been taken by that
body. 1t is up to the union blacksmiths
to go out of the shops or go out OF the
American Federation of Labor if a
strike is ordered. The blacksmiths are
affiliated with the American Fedora
tion of Labor in such manner that
the men cannot do piece work and still
remain in the union.
Fourth Vice President Buckalew OF
the International Association of Mach
inists, is quoted as follows concerning
the trouble with the blacksmiths:
You may be sure that something is
going to happen before the first OF
September, At that time there viii
be none OF the union blacksmiths at
the Santa Fe shops or in the employ
of the Santa Fe As it is now all the
unions which are affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor are un
der agreement not to work on the
piece work system and this bonus sys
TEN which the Santa Fe is now in
stalling in the shops along the line
is a form of that kind of work, onsce
Quently the company will have tC
Nudu5t IT'S poI4NS VI bAI 4LA'A AuA
work
Already the men are beginning L
quit the employ of the company anl
are seeking work on some other road
In this way they get around going OF
a strike and will still have employ
ment / look for the blacksmiths t,
be called out by the first Of mex
month. 1t may be that they will no
go out on a strike but they will hav
to quit work for the Santa Fe if Oh
bonus system is adhered to by tina
company There are in all about 80
blacksmiths in the employ of the Santi
Fe and probably of this number tiftee
TO twenty-five are employed in tn
shops here. The men themselye
will have TO call the strike as no OF
icers have that authority. The blacl
smiths are already out on the cOas
lines of the Santa Fe and have bee
for some time, and if the union ha
enough money a strike will be Gale
on the eastern and central division
of the road OF wherever the bonus syi
tenn is used. Il requires cOnsiderabl
money TO maintain a strike and In
blacksmiths are by no means as Tic
as the maChiuists. We have all kind
of money TO keep up the strike, bJ
the hlaCksmiths are not so well fiXel
There will be a district meeting
the machinists in Topeka the 1st 4,
September. All the lodges from Cal
fornia to Chicago will send represeI