Evening journal., 1912-06-17
TRAINMEN
VOTE STRIKE
1000 of $4,000 Would Quit
the PennSy Ser
vice
COMPANY ASKS MEN
TO CONSIDER FAMILIES

More than 1000 employees OF the 25,- !
600 Pennsylvania Railroad lines east /
Of Pittsburg and Erie, members Of the
three hrotherhoods Of railroad con-
ductors, trainmen and firemen and
enginemen. have voted 10 leave. the
service Of the company. according TO
officials Of the three organizations
Coincident wit hthe casting Of the first
ballots. the Pennsylvania Railroad is
sued a statement addressed 10 the
employees Of the eastern division adj
vising them to weigh the issue care
fully before deciding 10 vote for
strike. The trainmen are asked to
consider their own interests and the
welfare of their wives and children
before taking any drastic action.
The company's notice follows:
The Notice.
A Message from the Pennsylvania
Railroad TO all employees Take this
home Read every word Of Il. Your
family is interested in &C.
The communication then continues:
"Thirty-fve requests were made 10
this company by It's conductors,
trainmen and fremen. Twenty-nine
have either been settled satisfactorily
by the company or withdrawn by the
representatives Of the men. We are
now informed that a strike vote OF the
employees will be taken TO determine
whether or not they are willing to
leave the service OF the company 70
enforce the six remaining questions.
In order that each man may under
stand the situation clearly and vote
with full knowledge OF the company's
position on the questions at issue. we
ask that you read carefully this
statement Of facts.
We held a number OF conferences
with the committees Of chairmen rep
resenting the employees. Free and full
discussion was invited on every phase
Of the subject. with the view TO bring
Ing out every argument most Thought
ful consideration before making a re-
ply. Later the employees committee |
asked that the company permit them
to have the vice-presidents Of the sew
eral organizations assist them. We
granted this request and four confer
ences were held. at which these vice.
presidents were present.
AT each conference new evidence
was presented bearing upon various
questions. This received the same
careful consideration that all for
mer evidence had. The negotiations,
which have consumed considerable
time. would have been completed
much earlier had all OF the informa-
tion been presented originally by the
committees. This certainly would
have been more satisfactory 10 the
employees as we'll as the manage
mant
Denies Committee Delay.
Several times in the course Of our
negotiations II was intimated that the
company was prolonging the stay in
Philadelphia of your committees. Such
intimations are without any basis OF
fact This was a factor over which
the company had no control. as II was
at the request Of the committees Of
the men that the various conferences
were held.
by reason Of the increased business
incident 10 the opening of the Penn
sylvania Railroad station. New York
and the establishment OF electric SER
vice In the New York district. includ-
ing the line TO Newark it was neces-
sary TO increase the number OF crews
In through service. Since the inauFl-
ration of electric service on the east
ern end Of our line. traffic has in
creased TO such an extent that forty
fremen have been promoted to engi-
neers and about eighty-seven addition
al fremen empolyed.
AS TO the reduction in steam shut
lie service: Inasmuch as this was
simply a temporary service-and was
so understood by everybody estab-
lished because the Park Place ciec-
trio line was not completed when
the Pennsylvania station was opened
there we're no permanent positions az
fected by reduction of the steam shut
tie service.
~'To insure that the spirit and IN
tent of the regulations we're adhered
70. the management has consulted
carefully the minutes of the meetings
az which the regulators wore framed
and at which meetings the employees
we're represented.
Severance Not Warranted"
The whole question now resolves
Itself into one OF opinion as to the
word, spirit. and intent of the regu-
ldAbut lAdmtu dl tue VI
the employees. The company has en-
deavored to carry out these regula-
tions with absolute fairness. Honest
differences of opinion as TO the mean
ing Of various regulations are. and
always will be. subject 10 adjustment.
"A severance Of the pleasant rela-
fions between the employees and the
management is not warranted No
regulations have been violated and no
one has or will suffer hardship.
"In voting whether you are willing
to leave the service, consider carefully
the above facts and remember that
the company has always been liberal
and fair in its treatment OF its en-
ployes and that IL has always receive
ed public recognition and approval for
It's strict adherence 10 this policy.
1T would be most unfortunate for
the public, for you and for the com
pany should you decide TO sever your
relations with an employer who has
endeavored and will continue jealous
ly TO guard all your interests"