The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
.SW|TCHMEN WALK
OUT ON STRIKE
Demands Are Made for Adj
vance In Mems Wages
COMPROMISE IS OFFERED
Switchmen Turn Down Proposal From
Company and Now Railroad Traf-
fic in the Northwest Is Com
pletely Tied Up.
COMPROMISE IS OFFERED

ST. Paul, November so.-After 10 days
of negotiations between the Switchmens s
Union of North America and the joint
committee of railroad managers repre-
senting IS railroads of the northwest, q
strike involving 1900 switchmen became
effective at o'clock tonight.
The men engaged in this strike are em-
ployed by the various railroads running
west and north of st. Paul from Lake
Superior to the Pacific coast ano unless
speedily settled will mean serious IN
terruption to traffic.
The first effect of the strike was a
sharp bulge In the price of wheat In the
Chicago grain market today. The roads
entering the Twin cities and Duluth and
Superior are largely grain carrying roads
from the west.
Tonight both sides to the dispute Is
sued statements. The railway mama
gers Committee issued she foiaowins:
The switchmen in the northwest ter
ritory made simultaneous demands on Is
railroad companies centering In the Twin
cities for double pay Sundays, holidays
per day of 10 hours in the wages OF
switchmen, switch tenders, towermen. en-
CINE herders and assistant yardmasters;
a modification of the rule providing for
the payment OF penalty In case of fail
ure to permit switchmen 70 secure their
meal in the middle of their shift at
stated period, which contempiates dou-
BILE pay in cases where 1t became neces-
sary to work a portion of the meal hour,
and the elimination of the physical exam
ination and the age limit placed upon
switchmen entering the service.
Standing Firm.
'.rhe switchmen in no detail receded
from their demands which. If conceded,
would have entailed an additional ex-
pense upon the railroads switching ser
vice of some 40 to 45 per cent.
1.-The managers committee offered the
switchmen an increase of DO cents per
day of 10 hours in the rates of pay of
switchmen employed in the territory
west of Havre, Mont, on the Great
Northern railway, and west of Billings,
Mont, on the Northern Pacific.
"Eurther concession was declined be-
cause the rates Of fNpay Of switchmen were
Increased over IS per cent In November,
1906. and because the rates had not been
reduced during the period Of business de-
preston which followed.
"The attention of the switchmen was
called to the fact that in 1906 the switch
men were granted a larger percentage or
increase than any other class OF en-
ployes in train service. At the present
rates the wages of the switchmen aver
aged over $l00 per month
The statement then recites that after
first declining to leave the dispute to ar
Htx-o<fop tho switchmen changed their
minds and suggested that the controversy
be left with Martin A. Knapp of the in
terstate commerce commission and
Charles p. Neill, United States commits
sioner of labor. Before the arbitration
conference could be held, however. the
switchmen again declined this form Of
settlement and announced their intention
of striking. This the railway managers
assert, is a breach of faith.
hawIey's Statement.
sneakinr for the switchmen, President
Hawley said:
1--WE want an advance of cents an
hour In pay and the elimination of over
time and Sunday work as far as possi-
BILE. and the request for double pay for
overtime is in the nature of a penalty
more than anything else as we want to
discourage overtime, Sunday and holiday
work
eve also ask for modification of the
physical requirements and age limit
rules. Examination for employment on
railroads is now regarded as street as
those required for service in the army.
This strike will result In tie-up OF
railroad traffic. From now on not a
switch engine will move In the territory
between the head of the lakes and the