Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1911-11-30
Concerning The Strike

employees, NoCk 1Sluuu Llnes'
In view of the rumors of an i'm
pending strike of the shop employees
of the Rock Island Lines, and re
cognizing the right of the public tc
have full information on question
that involves the surrender to com
mittee of employees the rights to say
in what manner the corporation
shall perform its service to the pub
lie, the following statement is sub
mitted
The policy of the company has al
ways been one of fairness toward its
employer. 1t has withheld retrench'
ment of forces as long as possible
1t has always paid wages equal to
those of contiguous lines Its men
have always served under working
rules and conditions as favorable as
as those of contiguous lines.
In view of the facts and the pres
ent business conditions of the coun-
try, this company could not con-
slider anything that contemplated an
increase in its expenses, and the
General Committee of Shop En-
ployes, at the beginning of the con-
ferences, over four months ago,
were fairly ADVISED of this.
But, Notwithstanding that notice,
the above committee insisted upon
pressing negotiations that finally
terminated November 10, 1911.
Briefly, the issues upon which the
employees committee justify strike
are as follows:
l. They demand that the pay
ment of five hours overtime shall
commence one hour earlier than at
present.
The company declines this, be-
cause of increase expense, with no
compromising return.
II They demand that any en-
ploye called to work overtime shall
"be released upon completion of the
job called or held for, unless other
emergency work arises which rec
quires immediate attention and he is
the only man of his craft on duty"
The company declines this, be-
cause of increased expense, and for
the reason that a man is given a
minimum of five hours pay if he
works after SIX A. M. or p. M.
The company has right to the use
of the man for the time paid, even
though the job for which he is call
ed may notconsume all of that time.
III. They demand that laying
off and employing men shall be
exclusively by seniority.
The company declines this, for
the reason that its schedules with all
other employees provide that ability
of the individual shall be taken into
consideration in employing and pro-
noting men and in reducing forces.
1t is the duty of the company to
treat all employees alike and to give
all fair and equal consideration, to
the end that the most efficient, hon
est and dilligent workmen shall be
given steady employment, and for
the further reason that if forces were
to be recuced in the manner de-
handed by the employees it would
permit them to indicate those to be
laid off, thereby prohibiting the com
pany from Kidding he service of the
less desirable employees, and thus
embarrassing it in its efforts for
economical operation.
". They demand that only
"running repair" work be done
when shops are closed; that time and
one half be paid to men employed
in regular hours, when shops are
closed, upon miscellaneous repairs
to locomotives or cars, or upon
what is commonly known as dead
work.
The company declines this, be-
cause of increased expense which
would result from an idle force OF
such men, greater part of the time,
as are necessary to be employed in
l..