The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-24
STATEMENT OF BROTH.
ERHOOD OF RAILWAY CLERKS

A strike Of the members of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks, con-
shutting fully 80: per cent of the cler-
ical force Of the Atlantic System of
the Southern Pacific Railway, went
into effect at 10 O'Clock a.. m. October
18th. - .,rt.'
At the end Of" the fourth week of
this strike all fipembers are standing
firm; there is mo- .indication Of weak
ening at. any point Our. members are
making fight (which is beWildering
TO railway officials and every indica-
ton points to our. ultimate victory.
This strike was precipitated through
discrimination against our craft upon
the part of. the officials of the South
ern Pacific Railway company. While
they have met committees from other
classes of employees in spirit Of fair
ness and Justice, a request for an
audience by committee representing
the purpose of discussing and posi-
bly, adjusting the many injustices
practiced against them, not only met
with refusal, but with the dismissal
from the service of some Of those
members constituting such commit
tee. Employees Of that company in
other departments have been granted
increases in wages, from time to time;
they have secured mutual agreements
establishing a minimum wage scale.
These have been denied the clerks
no advance in wages, consistent with
the increased cost Of living, has been
granted them-their salaries have
been, and are, contingent upon the
least possible amount at which their
services can be secured. This COM
pany has entered into agreements with
other employees, specifying certain
number Of hours to constitute a days
work, while the hours of service de-
manded from their clerks are not COW
cred by agreement, understanding or
precedent, but instead by the demands
Of the service as interpreted by minor
officials. They are required to work
long hours-far in excess of a. rea-
sonable days work-and while other
classes Of employees are compensated
for overtime, such extra compensation
is refused employees in the Clerical
departments.
These are some Of the grievances
which we are seeking to remedy. We
only ask for a just and equitable ad-
justment Of them, but when a request
therefor was made upon the officials
of that company many prominent
were discharged and immediate prep
arations made to discharge all men,
bers Of this Brotherhood, employed
upon the Atlantic System Of that road
as soon as their places could be filled
by non-member clerks.
Agencies have been established in
various cities for the purpose Of Sc
curing strike breakers for the Southern
Pacific Railway. Advertisements are
being inserted in the daily press for
railway clerks by such agencies and
in most instances no mention is made
Of the fact that they are wanted to
fill the places Of strikers.
All friends Of organized labor, men,
bers thereof and others who desire
to see fair play and Justice prevail
are requested to use their influence
toward discouraging all railway clerks
possible from having any business
transactions with these agencies.
The Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks
termed 1.-THE Infant Railway Organ
ization"-is fighting, alone and I'M
aided. the battle Of the railway clerks
Of the country. Its triumph will mean
their emancipation from unjust con-
ditions and will mean much for or
ganized labor IN general. It, therefore
asks for the moral support of the
wage earners Of, North America. .
! III . y, *3 q nm F. RILEY,
l4 Y%4EF 4: Isl Third Vice President.
/. r. IL. FISHER Szs as S
Grand Secretary Treasurer.
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