The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-03-16
ADVANCE IN RAILROAD
WAGES IS CONSIDERED
Trainmen and Conductors on
Western Railways Voting on
Managers Proposal.
Officials on Forty-nine Lines Re
fuse Unions Demands and
Make Counter Offer.

St. Paul. March 14.-The managers
committee representing forty-two rail-
roads west Of Chicago, has announced
an important schedule of advance in
pay which has been rendered freight
and passenger conductors and train
men. In case this schedule does not
prove acceptable to the employees the
roads will use their influence to throw
the entire matter open to arbitration
and prevent a strike if possible.
That the trainmen and conductors Of
all the Western railways entering Chi
cago will vote to strike within the
next fifteen days is a practical GER
, tainty
After weeks spent in negotiations
with a committee Of general managers
of forty two roads the representatives
Of the Order Of Railway Conductors
and the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men have broken off all negotiations
and are preparing a ballot to be voted
by all members of the two organiza-
tions.
The demands Of the men are for an
eight-hour day and an increase in
| wages amounting to about Is per cent.
! The eight-hour day has never been
! considered by the railway managers
I since they succeeded in persuading the
Brotherhood Of Railway Engineers to
drop that feature from their demands.
Neither would they consider a Is per
cent increase. Instead they have made
several propositions, the last Of which
was submitted with the ultimatum that
it was the best they could possibly do.
The proposition grants an increase of
| 10 per cent fiat for the men running
on freight trains and per cent for
those on passenger trains. On an aver
age this does not mean more than a
| 7 per cent increase, according to the
employees, and one which can not pos
| sibly be accepted.
The employees during the conference
waived their demands for an eight
hour day. The original demand for
eight hours was used merely as a
basis for figuring time on the 100-mile
runs. The men claimed that they were
working too many hours in making the
runs. They figured that the 100 miles
could be made with an average run
ming time of twelve and one-half mile:
an hour instead Of the ten mile-an.
hour schedule on which they are run.
ming at present.
They waived this and offered thu
eleven mile-an-hour schedule instead
which would practically mean a nine.
hour day. This the managers woult
not listen to and as a result all ne.
gotiations were brought to a sudder
end.
According to the rules governing boil
organizations all propositions mus
first be submitted to a. referendum O.
the rank and file. The result then goe
to the executive committee, which
alone can call a strike. Even afte
the men have voted to strike it is with
in the province of the leaders to ope1
further negotiations with the railway
and this will be the course pursued
in this case. The chiefs will agai1
meet with the managers and announc
the vote Of the men. The railway
then have a chance to make bette
concessions to the men and it is ex
pected they will do so.
A strike of the employees would affec
about $4,000 in the two organization
and nearly triple that number outsid
the organizations.
The lines involved embrace IS pc
cent of the railroad mileage of tn
United States and Canada. The mum
Der of employees is .about 100000, in
Guiding those unorganized and thos
organized but NOT parties to the con
ference = -: 5000.
There are forty-nine railroads tina
have had representation in the confer
ence. The $4,000 men directly con
cerned In the controversy are not a
that will be- affected by strike orde,
There are 100000 men In. the \ sam
service that will either 60 out in sym
2athy with the organization q DO en-