The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-10-07
union BENEFITS.
Amazing Progress Of the Broth
erhood of Teamsters.
SUNDAY WORK ABOLISHED.

WAGES Increased and Men Are NO
Longer Forced to Labor Overtime
Without Pay-A Convincing Arsu-
ment In Favor of Organization.
The International Brotherhood Of |
Transfers has perhaps done more for
its membership within the past five
years than any other organization OF |
labor, writes President Tobin in the
American Federationist. 1t is well
known fact that before the teamsters
Of this country became organized the /
life of the average individual working
at that craft In the large cities and
towns was perhaps the hardest kind
Of an existence for workingman,
Unusually hard work. long hours and
small pay were the conditions that
surrounded the life of the teamsters
up to within few years ago. Sunday
work was almost as common as en-
ployment during any other day of the
week. because if the teamster was not
working on the street or around the
warehouse on Sunday he was usually
busy around the stable taking care of
horses, harness. wagons, etc.
Naturally this kind of work is hard
work anyway. because Of the hard
ships and privations which men of this
craft have to endure ard are subjected
to. especially in the cold and Indictment
weather. and it is amoSt impossible
for any person to realize the nature of
this employment without personally
experiencing those conditions. But
since organization has taken place
among the men a complete change has
been brought about. Wages have been
increased within the past six years
perhaps from 30 to 60 per cent in all
the large industrial centers The hours
Of labor have been regulated. and over
time is now being paid in nearly every
section of the country where men work
over Il certain number of hours. Usual
ly the work performed on Sunday is
merely the stable work. taking care of
horses. etc. and this is done by men
employed specially for this task. and
the rank and file of the teamsters are
not required to put in an appearance
at all at the stable on Sunday.
The carriage and automobile branch
of our trade we have regulated as to
hours and gained increases in wages
and generally bettered conditions. 1t
is impossible to dispense with the
work of those men on Sunday, but we
are now endeavoring to regulate this
class of employment so that man
can have at least one Sunday in four
with the members of his family and
for the purpose of attending church
service If he SO desires.
| Comparing the present with the past.
1t is hard to realize that such COM
plete change has taken place within
a few years. but this condition has
unquestionably been brought about
through organization of our craft and
our utilization with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor Very true. there is
plenty of room for improvement. but
we are moving slowly. conservatively.
but surely onward every day.
At first it was rather hard task to
make the transfers of the country
believe that any good could be gained
by the formation of labor orguniza-
ton. but as time went on those men
became slowly convinced that their
only protection was In banding togeth-
err into an organization.
Today the membership of the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Transfers
would perhaps give up anything they
have in the world rather than surren-
der their labor union, which has done
so much for them and their families.
The teamster has been made better
man. better feeling exists among the
individuals working day after day on
the streets of our great cities. as the
teamster has been somewhat educated
through his meetings and through the
labor press. He feels more like man
than before