Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19

of organization, that no contract would be required, etc, also a
discussion of the wage scale as compared with other cities.
The letter then concludes:
Regarding the provision to ENSURE fair treatment to union employees. 1
will say that the policy of or company toward the union has been sc often
announced and published. tina. there should be o Misunderstanding regarding
shall be treated in every way as fairly and justly as u nonunlOn employees,
and there shall be n o discrimination made by the officers of the company for
or asainstt them If at any time any such discrimination ian be shown to
exst 1t Will be Immediately corrected We have always reserved the right
If the officers and superintendens to say to or men that re prefer that they
DO not join hi union nut nc pledge is required from IN mn entering our
union men. We must at all tines MAINTAIN "% discipline inc and good good service o n the
best service possible.
Regarding the schedule of ms W ave at all times stated to the men
that 1t vas the purpose oft the company to so adjust the run al to be most
sausi satisfactory &c them, keeping in mind the fact hat the service JUS nt be
of each day. We have repeatedly stated. that if any suggested changes in
convenient to Jul employees, W e would be glad to receive such suggestions
a sufficient number of extra men, to the end that regular men may lay off o
frequent occasions. if they 70 desire; To be fair, however with the extra men
reasonable vas fol al who are employed.
II ave+ated al length in this letter the position of our company oil all of
tn mV ns " hV or Hn Tog" omn, owe. are we T To- umt da m me eD Uu 1Trurb hm ot tns T nIopsoDt
relations that have existed between the officers Of or company and the mn
in its employ. We shall, however pursue the policies herein outlined, be-
You are at liberty to use this letter in any manner you SCI fit to promote
the general ger Tal, welfare t% Of u G employee loves 49,
ing with this nonresident officer of the national association and the president
Of the Street Railway company could be had, if desired, before the executive
committee Of the Omaha Business Mems association, and at the later request
of Mr. Pratt such a meeting raj held in the Commercial club rooms at 1
o'clock !. M. on September II. At this meeting all matters'of difference be-
tween the company and its employees we're discussed. The question of wages
was carefully gone over, and the statement of the president of the company on
this subject was reiterated. The complaint of discrimination against union
the union, that if any such determinations could be shown, they would be inn
mediatey corrected. and if not corrected, then the company would stand con-
victed If a violation of its agreement to insure the san treatment to its
umOn employees as given to its nonunion men The matter of runs was dis
cusSed' and the same statement was repeated as made to the committee of
union men that if any readjustment of the run could be suggested that would
better the condition If the men without impahing the service to the public
signing II a contract with H. nnIon wbicI wonId mean = Closed hon. and and
which would violate all the pledges of the company to it's nonunion employees
was the only question outside Oft the immediate increase of pay, which seemed
to b. or m Importance on whicha al parties could lot agree
MI. Pratt had in his possession the letter above quoted, and read it at the
business mems meeting. lie stated that this letter would be read at the meet
be satisfactory. The president Of the company then agreed to embody in a
letter to each and every enploye in the service of the company every agree
ment regarding the correction of alleged abuses and the insurance of the same
treatment to union mn as nonuniOn men received, INC place this letter in the
hands of every employe thatth they might call the attention of tn officers of the
factory The whole question with Mr.. Pratt sesmed to rest on the execution
ofa contract between the union and the Street Railway company, which would
At the meetings of the uniOnh held OIL the afternoon and evening of Sep
TENDER II, by a bare majority, al we are informed, the executive commits
was authorized to call a immediate strike. No further efforts were made by
the executive committee toward reaching any understanding with the COM
pany' m the strike or as the union men are pleased to cal it. III lock
union. 1t contains so any msstatements Of fact that we must review and
that the company has violated every verbal promise they have made with
their employees for the past seven years The company has compelled a
pledge from ew men that they would not join the union.
We ask for the proof No nan entering the employ Of the company has
verb verbal i~ or written Of tn company ny have have b BEEN ST violated s@s wi; with ra the men ~ '0Hs
to picket union meetings and spying 2 the men, using intimidadns an dis,
No man un in the n employ IT. the Street Railway company has Ssa compelled
Of Mr. Pratt before the business mem meeting that the local union recruited
have been authorized by the president Of this company and published in at
p%y from joining the union, and the fact that a large number have joined,
p paII month, is Complete ans answer to ths IS statement %S G'"'' O'S''DF'' u0'"S tn
the past asS y s%'I9 e niss eai 90 IT leaves "s's the i1 15a5 G that i' 0iS a 10 td 5s'a 81 o aP' N:
men rom becoming old enough in the service t. receive the maximum wage.
employees and nd. they are never discharged except for the mst fragrant Violations
Of rules ne Ict hat ut OIL D0u VI onductor5 and motormen lao are
receiving the maximum pay disproyes this assertion.
h statement hat men are compelled to run o swing run that COM
pei them to put in twenty hours out of the twenty-four and only receive nine
hours pay, is absolutely false. Such a condition would make this company
liable to prosecution under the Interstate Commerce Act which prohibits any
such abuses. IL is tue that o. a few Of the run under the present schedule,
men from choice select runs that require their service both early and late. so
But n o man is obliged to take such a run, unless from his choice, and, as
gladly change any schedule, II a better on car be suggested that will prevent
The inference that extra men are not permitted to earn decent wages is
equally taNse.. ne aVeragee earnings Tor all OF the extra conductors oil u lines
during the past month a $55.S2, and for all the extra motormen S54OS,
true that among the extra men serving their first years time there are many
changes and fluctuations Some are discharged, many quit OF heir W &C
cord, and only hose remain in the service who are of the better class. There
are many floating employees who do not want to work more than a few months
in ny city, and this accounts for the lage number ofc changes among the men
during the first years service
There is not and has not been ny difference between the officers of the
Street Railway company and its union employees which could lot and would
nt nave been fairly adjusted, but for the Interference Of outside agtators.
If the matters in dispute had bee. looked into by our local. labor union lead
es, there is not the least doubt in the world that al amicable adjustment
could have been made the sam as it was two and a half years ago under a