The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-04-14
DEPARTMENT
COERCION
Clerks in Railway Mail
Service met with Altern-
ative of leaving employ
ment or quitting unions

ing local unions and securing charters
from the American Fedration of Labor
Second Assistant Postmaster Genera
Jospeh Stewart instructed the division
superintendeIts to inform the clerks
that the department considered it "in
imcal to the best interests of the gov.
ernmnt" for them to form secret or
ganization and requested them to gov
ern themselves accordingly. As a result
of this order the clerks have been and
are being informed that if they join a
union they will be discharged. The
chief clerk of the railway mail service
in San Francisco is calling the employees
in that service into his office and asking
that document be signed which con-
tains the following paragraph and
pledge: "We will not join any brother
hood or labor union while in this ser
vice."
| Notwithstanding this hateful form of
| intimidation, a great number refused to
sign pledge to abandon their union.
The hostility of the postoffice depart
| ment to the American Federation of
Labor cannot be explained, because
thousands of government employees are
| now members of unions affiliated to
the Federation.
Senators and representatives are re-
ceiving letters protesting against the in
timidation that these employees have to
endure, and as result of the protest
number of bills will be introduced to
| furnish the relief desired, as soon as
congress reconvenes, Monday, April 10.
Senator LaFollette says in letter to
the railway mail clerks, under date of
March 81, 1911, that 'the clerks nave
right to organize, and if the officers
of the department are endeavoring to
prevent them from doing so by threats
of discharge such action is without legal
authority or moral right" and if ne
finds conditions in the railway postal
service as represented, he will introduce
and do everything in his power "to pass
bill to prevent the continuation OF
such un- American practices, and to pre-
serve to all government employees the
right of petition which belongs to every
citizen, and the right to form or join
organizations for the Improvement OF
their labor conditions" Following is a
copy of the letter:
March 81, 1911.
My Dear Sir:
Nv attention has been directed to a
letter of instructions issued by Second
Assistant Postmaster General Stewart
to division superintendents to the effect
that it is "inimical to the interests OF
the government" for clerks to organize,
and "that it is Incompatible with their
obligation to the department" for them
to assume another obligation.
| am also informed that division su-
| perintendents and clerks in charge, in
carving out instructions, were directed
"not to publish this order
but let it go out by word of mouth"
and upon receipt of this letter, ordered
railway mail clerks to call at the office,
and informed them "that the depart
ment dissapproves of organizations
among railway postal clerks" This
statement was supplemented by ques-
ton in substance as follows:
"Knowing this, will you continue act
i've in the federation movement?"
| | am convinced that the clerks were
given to understand that their continu-
ance in the service depended upon the
answer.
1t is further represented to me that
this system of intimidation has been,
| and is being carried on to such an ex-
| tent that clerks have been prevented
from exercising their right to join a
union.
| desire to secure direct statements
from railway mail clerks as to whether
| in any way, they have been so threat
ened or intimidated. If you have been
approached and an effort made to pre-
ven you from joining or to force you to
withdraw from a union or to cease your
activities as union man, state fully
the circumstances, and be particular to
state the date and place where such
effort was made and the name or names
of any officer or officers who made such
effort, or were present when you were
i thus interviewed.
i The railway mail clerks have tho
right to organize. If the officers OF
the department are endeavoring to pre-
vent You from so doing by threats ol
discharge, such action is without lega
authority or moral right. If | fin'
conditions in the railway postal servic'
to be generally such as has been repre-
sented, shall introduce and do every
thing in my power to pass bill t'
preyent the continuation of such un
American practices, and to preserve t.
all government employees the right o