Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-29
was handed to you, and which is here

was handed to you, and which is here
quoted:
"a conference IDetween TepreSen|
tatives of the railways in Chicago dis
trict and representatives OF thell
switchmen is now in progress for the
o>ulpose of determining a scale on
wages and the establishment of work
ing conditions for that district.
"The rates of wages in the Chicago
district and in the Minnesota cities
for switchmen, have been Identical
and the working conditions similar.
"The representatives OF the Twin
City lines in conference this date
have confirmed by "a majority vote
the report of your excellency
that those roads represented will
agree to reemploy such of their form
Err yard employees as the roads may
have places for at the rates of pay
and under the working conditions in
effect November I, 1909, and at the
termination of the Chicago confer
ence the lines here represented Will
meet any additions in rates of pay
CIR working conditions that may be
granted b. the Chicago lines to THEM
switdhmen, and that as heretofore an
nounIaed the differential of two cents
per hour in the wages Of sWitchmen
win apply in the territory of Billings
and west on the Northern Pacific and
in the territory of Havre and west
on the Great Northern railway.
1T is the understanding of thu
representatives of the Twin City lines
that THE matter of reemploying the
switchmen who voluntarily left the
service of the Twin City lines on
November 30, requires Gurtlser ak
planat icm
with every wish to meet any sug
gestionS made by your excellency and
with the natural desire of employers
to meet Noteworthy men who gave
UP their positions, and who should
be at work for the support of their
families and themselves, the repre-.
sentatives of the Twin City lines
submit THAT no hardship should be
imposed. ncr any injustice permitted
to the large number Of present en-
rloyes in yard service, who are in no
no way responsible for the present
situation. When the former yard EN-
ployes of the railways voluntarily
gave up their situations on November
80 after refusing the offer of the
railroads to ar1bitrate and be bound
by arbitration award without appeal,
the refusal being made in the follow
ing language in letter signed by
MFR. Hawley, and dated November
%: The committee begs leave to
state that it will not submit to arbi.
tratlon under any circumstances it
BECAME necessary for the railroads
to promote many of the men who
remained in the service, to trans
fer some from other branches and to
EMPLOY many new men in order to
perform their duty to the public, to
the other employees and to the own
ers OF the properties.
las large employers of labor under
wage agreements, the Twin City lines
would not be justified in reducing in
rank those employees who have beer
promoted since November 80, in re
turning to their former employmenet
those who have left positions in 9th
er branches of the service, or in dis:
missing without cause the competent
men who have been employed to fiji
the other vacancies.
IL lss however, certain that uuson THE
basis of unemployment suggested b,
your ex1aenency many of the old mer
can be given employment. and rroyb
ably a large number would be restor
ed to their old Positions
With the growth of business it Is
reasonable to expect that considerable
increase in force will be REQUIRED
which will enable the Twin CITY lines
10 provide employment in the aggre
gate dor more men than we're employ,
ed previous to November 80.
The representatives of the Twir
City lines believe that they have ac
! cepted your exce1lency's suggestions
without reservation.
They have done so with the sin.
cere desire to avoid anv further in
convenience to the public and the
loss TO their employees which will re
suit from continuance of the Dres.
ent conditions.
In conclusion the representatives
of the Twin City lines are under the
necessity of advising your excellenc,
anat their efforts cannot remain oper
'nfbnitely, and if not previously &C
cepted it will he considered with
drawn a II noon Wednesday, Decem.
her 29.
with many thanks for YOUR inter
ests in behalf Of the RAILWAYS an;
| cnelT employees, and with a1preciatior
or the manner in which yo,rr excel
lency has handled these difficult ne
EQUATIONS, we beg to subscribe orr
| selves. "'
Very respectfully yours,
Representatives Western Railwa 20.