Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-18
CAUSE OF STRIKE
ON RIO GRANOE
Statement Issued Setting Forth
shoumen's Grievances and Rea-
sons for Dissatisfaction.
PEACE WAS WANTED BADLY
Ru,. Predicted Letter, Strike Was In
cylnblc With Railroad officials
Maintaining stubborn Position.

,.,o history of negotiations which
,,roceded the calling OF a strike of shop
NON ON the Rio Grande is contained
On letter written by the committee in
1,opver before the strike was called. 1t
&c the unions side of the question and
&c the first official statement of any
,anrth made by the men. As 1t con-
,ains the real causes of the strike from
the strikers viewpoint 1t is important
The vital paragraphs follow;
MIR. McQueeney, business agent for
the machinists' union, and the commit
too arranged TO meet Superintendent
purvls and the frst conference took
mace February IA. Nothing was ac-
rnn,pIished The committee met Mr.
ptryis again ON February 30. The fol-
lowing is result of that conference.
PURvIs STIRRED WRATH.
oMr. PuIvis gave the committee 10
understand that hereafter there would
be no contract on the Denver q Rio
Grande railroad and he would have
shop rules. and would make them him-
self. Also, he would start the men 10
work when he pleased, meaning by this
that he would start them at Z, or y
o'clock-night men on the same basis;
and that no overtime would be paid
until D. m. Overtime for Sundays
and holidays to be discontinued for
roundhouse men; holidays for shopmen
cut from eight to four, minimum time
for n cali cut from five hours to three
hours, and that the pay of mechanics
shall be based on what the men are
worth, the officials to be the judge.
This was illustrated as follows:
"Ill pay the man 40 cents an hour
II think he is worth it; or rs cents
an hour IL / don't think he is worth
any more
Further than this, Mr.. Purvis said
that the company would not meet any
committees or representatives In the
future but would meet the employees
as individuals. In other words, he gave
the committee to understand that he
would handle his part of the business
just as he saw fit regardless of the
men,.
TRIED FOR PLACE.
These proposed conditions were
unanimously rejected by the committee
and a conference arranged with Cen
eral Manager Ridgway. This meeting
was held Feb. rs. Mr.. Ridgway would
not interfere with the action of Mr..
Purvis. giving the committee TO under
stand that all contracts with the me-
chanical trades would be abrogated
March a. No stone has been left un-
turned in an endeavor to bring about
peaceful settlement.
Max Morris, fourth vice president of
the American Federation of Labor, was
asked to use his influence TO bring
abolft a settlement, and to this end
placed the matter before the state off,
aial IF n 10 oh a it-ttn .,f
the state Republican central committee.
These men waited upon Chas. Setback
vice pesident, but nothing resulted from
their efforts. The different trades COM
prising the boilermakers, blacksmiths
and car men are cooperating with us
in this matter; Joint meetings have
been held all over the system and the
men are determined not to accept prop
Ositions as submitted by the Rio Grande
system.
RULES WERE DISDIKED.
The company has gone so far as to
draw up set of shop rules which II
desires to put into effect, and has sent
the respective foremen out among the
men asking them individually to sign
this substitute for our present agree
ment. The men have unanimously re-
tected this proposition and have put up
a solid front. The rules offered by the
company were Objectionable in every |
detail. Even the laborers refused TO
sign them.
And now, in conclusion, we wish |
10 say that there appears nothing left |
for us to do but resist to the utmost. !
The men have (by almost a unanimous |
Vote decided TO strike rather than |
submit, and will strike if the company |
enforces the proposition.
OFFICIALS TO BLAME.
Should this policy prove successful,
II VIII mean the decentralization OF |
these organizations. as well as our |
right 10 have a voice in regulating the |
conditions OF employment, such as we |
have nejoyed during the past six years.
The district executive board Issued |
Instructions to the Denver & Rio |
Grande representatives to notify the Of
hcials of said system that the men
would remain at work until the COM
pany violated the existing agreement |
by discharging men for refusing TO |
work Sundays or other overtime on |
straight time, or wages were reduced.
This company has not compiled with
the existing agreement, as the agree
ment provides that the company or |
men desiring to change same shall fur
nish written copy OF the proposed |
changes and that the existing agree
ment shall remain in force until super
seeded by another. This company has |
not given n written notice of the pro-
posed changes, and we. therefore, feel |
Justified in taking the position out
lined above.
II there Is to be a strike on the |
-, a. X G., IL Will he caused by the |