Milford chronicle., 1910-07-08
TRAINMEN MAY
co ON STRIKE
Pennsylvania Men Want More
Than New York Central or
B. and 0. TTainmel
COMPANY MAKES STATEMENT

Philadelphia, July A strike pal.
lot is being distributed among the
trainmen of the Pennsylvania railroad
because the company has refused to
comply with demands for further in
creases in the wages Of trainmen and
yardmen. The statement Of facts in
the ballot is eminenuy fair, but GER
tain matters should be explained and
others ampifed.
A criticism Of the cOmpany's action
is made that an increase Of per cent
was granted to the employees regard
less of the expressed desires of the
committees.
The company has a duty to all Of its
employees as great as to its conductors
and trainmen. 1t has been the well
established policy of the company to
meet changed conditions promptly, so
that the employees in all departments
may at once receive wages as high as
or higher than employees in CORE
spending service Of other railroads.
The determination TO take a strike
vote was reached after a conference
on Tuesday with General Manager W
II. Meyers. who informed the commit
tees that the company would accept
the arbitration award of the New York
Central that it would adopt all that
embodies the principles for which they
contend and the rates that have been
put into effect on the New York Cen
trail leaving the cOmpany's high rate
stand, but not increasing them by max
ing a ten hour day apply to the rates
which were made to fit an eleven and
twelve hour day. or that the company
would try to meet these conditions by
adjustment. fitting its rates Of pay and
conditions Of work to the New York |
Central award as near as possible, as
has been done in the rates that have
been posted recently"
With reference to this declaration /
made by General Manager Myers the
company has called to the attention Of
the trainmen the following quotation
from the strike ballot which is to be
circulated among its employees:
The specific offer made by the CON-
pany that It was willing to apply the
New York Central award. putting in
the mileage system in its entirety with
ne minimum day, provided the men
would accept herewith the New York
onfral rHr~. As the rates that now
htaiu .u t1iS property are and have
aeen fer i"-e portion Of the service
natcria.s her than the New York
Central rl+ this offer was naturally
rejected
"Geuewlg speaking. yard rates put !
into effect y your company compare
favoraty with rates paid by other
iu the territory, but we CON
END that beth road and yard rates
should be HIGHER on our line than paid
~ other companies for similar service.
because the policy Of the PennSylva-
liza has always seemingly been to edu-
ate their employees in the belief that .
'ertain Of such employees We're enti-
led to from > TO 20 per cent more
han paid by other companies for simi-
ar service. We feel we are entitled to
continuation Of the practice accOmpa-
lied by standard condition Of pay
nent." :
Ninety-five per cent Of the gross earn
lgs Of the Pennsylvania railroad are
ased on transportation rates, which
re made as result Of competition In =
be north with the New York Central
nd in the south with the Baltimore y
nd Ohio. The company has to com
etc with these railroads. and although "
5 rates of pay have been higher and Y
yorking conditions better than those o.
{ the former roads. as the rates of pay
Z these railroads approach those Of 4"
lie company the latter cannot main "
lin the same difference between the y
ties of pay which must of necessity .
the natural course Of events reach u
common basis. It Is true that the u'
her railroads in this territory have
lade increases. but they have not ~
cached the rates generally paid by y
lie Pennsylvania railroad. =
That the company's employees may
lpreciate the seriousness OF this stu ;.
ion and that they may realize the 81
feet Of voting yes to this ballot, :.
ey should bear in mind that the rates 81
hich were adopted on the Baltimore ol
i'd Ohio and on the New York Cen eq
al-rates which they do not want to
cept from the Pennsylvania-were III
rived at after arbitration, Judge x
napp of the interstate commerce u
,mmission and Mr.. Neill commits "a
1ner of labor, being the arbitratOrs -
one case and Mr.. E. f. Clark. men, ~
r OF the interstate commerce com "a
lssion and formerly president Of the u
der of Railway Conductors. and Mr.. IN
II. Morrissey, formerly president Of VI
e Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen an
d now president OF the Railway ~
nployees Investors association. In
e other.
IN a statement posted on bulletin
ards all over the lines east Of Pitts