The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-10-06
RAILROADS WEST OF
BUFFALO MAY Strike
switchmen, Numbering rs, 900,
Demand More Pay and Bet
ter Working Conditions.
Railway Employees Seem to Be
Waking Up After Long and
Peaceful Sleep.

Chicago, oct. 4.-NOt since the Ia
| nous strike of the American Railway
union in 1894 have labor interests of
the railroads been in such dire straits
| as at present. Since that years there
has been no report Of an organized
| movement that threatened the busi-
ness of the various lines to the extent
! that they are now threatened.
The Switchmen's Union of North
America. organized since the ext1nc-
ton of the American Railway Union,
has come to the front and announces
that unless an increase in wages Is
granted the $4,000 members of the or
genization will go on strike within the
next thirty days. Officials Of the rail-
way companies have been busy count
ing noses since this notice was re-
ceived, and they shook their heads
gloomily yesterday when asked If they
| believed the men would go on strike.
The switchmen will demand an in
| crease in the wages Of engine FORE
men from 81 cents an hour to ~ cents
and of helpers from % cents to SO
| cents, the increase to be effective on
all roads west of Buffalo to the Pa
| cif1c coast. They also want the work
| ing day reduced from ten to eight
hours.
Lines Given Until Oct. rs.
| The men have given the companies
until Oct. rs to deliver final decision
as to their demands. It is said that
if nothing favorable is heard from the
railway officials before that date the
members of the organization will
strike.
Vice President Heberling of the
international organization, who has
| charge of the situation in Chicago,
said yesterday that he believed that
there would be big strike in case
the companies failed to come to an
agreement with the switchmen. He
said that the men have not been so
well organized since 1894 as at the
present and declared that they were
ready to quit work in order to en-
force the demands Of the organiza-
ton.
Increased Cost Of Living.
"Our demand for more wages was
made, first, on account of the increas-
ed cost of living" said Vice President
Heberling. Food has increased 48
per cent in cost and rent from so to
100 per cent in twenty-five years. The
increase in wages has been only II
per cent, only one raise being given
to us and that in 1902.
"The duties of switchmen have
grown heavier each year because of
heavier equipment of all railways. Our
work is harder and our earning power
for the railways is ten times as great
as it was twenty-five years ago.
Work Is Most Hazardous.
IN
hazardous work in railway service.
Government statistics show the aver.
age life Of sw1tchmen is only seven
years: One man out OF every nine is
killed or injured every year,
Other officials declared that the
switchmen would appeal to other
brotherhoods of railway employees fol
support, and they professed to believe
that they would be supported by all OF
the other unions.
Unions Practically Tied Up.
It is said: however, that they viii
have to make an extra strong ples
= because the railway unions have al
t ready been asked to fill in the breach
" between the machinists and the teleg
raphers and the railroads.
n What the switchmen lack at pres
ent IS the support OF such an organ
n tzation as the old Federation of Rail
d way Employees, which went to piece,
s just before the declaration of war OF
e the part of the American Railwa,
e union. AS matter of fact, the deatl
g of the Federation of Railway En-
f ployes was the birthday of the Amer
e lean Railway union. However, since
then the Brotherhood of Railwa,
i Trainmen has grown up, which claim,
+ jurisdiction over the switchmen a,
= well as the other railway organizations
What position this organization vii
take in the present controversy is no
known, but the switchmen are hopin,
that they will be able to command it,
support.
Smoke Puradora Cigar, Clear Havana