United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-06-09
$1,000 men
INCREASED
An Arbitration Board, Or
ganized Under Erdman
Act. Makes Large
Award

Only short time ago one of the
greatest strikes the world has known
was imminent, but was averted. The
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Eng-
neers and Firemen of forty-nine rail-
roads west of Chicago demanded a
material increase in pay, owing to
the high cost of living, and it was
feared at the time that interstate
commerce would be tied up indef-
niteIy and the country paralyzed by
the result; but thanks to the con-
sentative policy Of the Brotherhood
and the good serse of the managers
of the many railroads, coupled with
the conciliatory Influences of Labor
Commissioner Neil of the Bureau of
Commerce and Labor, the great suf-
ferng and financial loss which
would have followed was averted.
At that time a slight increase was
granted; but it was agreed between Com
missioner Neill and the representatives
OF the disputants dat the demand of the
Brotherhood should go 10 arbitration I'M
der the Erdman aet. This being agreed
to. an umpire was chosen in William
Lee Chambers of v Washington, D. c., who
with W. R. Scott, Tice-president South
ern Palific railroad, and Timothy Shea,
president of the Brotherhood, composed
the arbitration boafd and have rendered
the following findings:
Firemen on mali and branch passen-
ger service granted increase OF 10 cents
per hundred miles.
Men demanded q cents.
F'iremen in irregular freight and mixed
service given increase OF Is cents per
hundred miles on oil engines. 80 cents
on coal engines
They asked for 40 cents.
Firemen in local and way freight serv-
ice an increase of 25 cents per hundred
miles.
Ffremen on Maliet type of engines,
scale of 81 per hundred miles.
Firemen in yard service an increase of
Is cents pei. day.
Holsters and other classes OF employees
an increase of IS cents per day.
This is one of the greatest victories in
arbitration that was ever known. The
great dailies of the country have merely
made mention of the findings of the board
without comment of prominence, and
have let the great victory pass into his
tory But in passing we wish 10 call the
attention of our readers to the enormity
OF the victory gained by the railroad men
in the decision Of the board.
There are employed on the many roads
affected by this Increase $4,000 men who
are benefited by the decision
Firemen are granted an increase OF Is
cents for every hundred miles travelled,
and the average run is not less than
from 200 to $50 miles, and many are
greater. which would make an increase
of from so to 40 cents a day. This is
the award for runs on main lines.
Firemen in yards. on short and irreg-
ular runs, and on heavy engines are to
receive a much greater increase
Not only is an increase of from 20 to
40 cents a day given the $4,000 men, but
it is made retroactive and the men will
receive the difference between the in
crease formerly granted and the award
by the arbitration board, dating from the
first of the year This will amount to
many thousands Of dollars. Both sides
are pledged to accept the decision of the
board.
AT least 1000 Colorado railroad fire
men will benefit by the increase in wages
granted by the board of arbitration in
Chicago to the men on the forty-nine
Western lines Every line centering in
Colorado is affected by the award, the
men getting an increase of from 20 TO 40
cents a day. aceo ling to the size of the
engines involved and the length of the
run.
The firemen on the Denver & Rio
Grande who have been demanding an in
crease varying from 20 to 25 per cent.
will settle with the road on the basis of
tho ~h;c,uo cattIanenr