Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-13
P. R.. R.. MEN
VQTEONSTR|KE
Situation Has Important
Bearing in This Section.

Of a strike. About 800 men in
South Amboy are vitality interested
as we'll as many in Jamesburg and
not a few In Perth Amboy.
Such a strike as is proposed would
mean tying UP the whole operation
at South Amboy. The indications
are, however, that many OF the en-
ployes In South Amboy would refuse
to strike. In fact, It is understood
that a great number there have
signed affidavits Joining with En-
gineman Hemphill, of Philadelphia,
in his injunction to restrain the
three organizations OF conductors,
trainmen and fremen and engineers
from doing business as a federated
body. 1t is understood that there
Is considerable dissatisfaction In
South Amboy on the way the matter
has been handled by the organlza-
ton leaders.
The following article, which was
published in the Philadelphia Even
ing Bulletin June II, is of Interest
regarding the situation:
What 1raInmen's strrke Means.
Would tie up Pennsylvania rail-
road lines east of Pittsburg and Erie.
$4,000 employees would lose about
$4,000 a day.
Each man on strike would re-
ceive $50 a month from his brother
hood, under q provision of its law,
from a fund Of $40, 100000 in treas
uries of Order of Railway Conduc-
tors, Brotherhood OF Railroad Train
men and brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen.
Strike would cause idleness OF all
conductors, yardmen. brakemen,
fremen and about 35 per cent OF
the enginemen on PennBy's Eastern
divisions.
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engi-
neers having agreed to arbitrate Its
demands on fifty Eastern railroads,
could not Join the strike OF the
other three organizations SO that
about 90 per cent OF the enginemen
would have to remain on duty.
Not more than one strike out OF
a thousand threatened Is ever car
ried into effect by railroad en-
ployes."
This statement was made today
by George H. Sines, vice president OF
the Brotherhood Of Railroad Train
men, a spokesman for the three or
ganizations involved in a dispute
with the Pennsylvania railroad, the
outcome Of which has reached q
crisis" because OF the decision OF
the leaders of $4,000 employees to
submit the question OF O strike to the
men.
While the strike ballot was under
consideration today by the General
Committee Of 100 chairmen of the
various Eastern lodges OF the three
brotherhoods who were in executive
session at the Parkway building, Mr.,
Sines received several visitors, to
whom he explained the situation.
Mr.. Sines has no doubt that the
men will vote to empower the Off
cials to call a strike, but he rather
believes the Pennsylvania will weak
en- when the temper Of the men has
been asserted through the ballot and
adjust the grievances.
Mr.. Sines recalled that IN 1910 the
Order OF Railway Conductors and
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men also had a serious dispute with
the Pennsy. A strike vote was
taken, but a strike did not result.
The management OF the railroad re-
ceived the leaders of the men in
conference and the grievances were
adjusted.
Two months & the Brotherhood
of Railroad Engineers took a strike
vote and threatened to tie up fifty
Eastern railroads. These same rail
roads are operating as usual today,
both sides having agreed to submit
the differences to an arbitration
board of seven for adjustment. This
ties the Brotherhood's hands in the
present conflict. It's members being
required to remain at work If the
other organizations call a strike.
The strike ballot under prepare.
ton, Mr.. Sines said, will cover about
four pages, outlining the unadjusted
grievances. Each member of the
three organizations will be asked tc
vote yes or no." indicating
whether he agrees to accept or reject
the company's answer to the griev
ances. Each will indicate also hi
individual preference as to whether
or not he empowers the leaders tt
call a strike unless a settlement
through conference al be effected
After the vote has been RECORD
ed" said Mr.. Sines, "the railroad
will be notified of the result ant
given an opportunity to meet III
again in conference. If the griev
ances are adjusted, the strike would
not be called"
We decided to put the issues VI
to the men because we could not ge'
the company to adjust the dispute
otherwise. The expense of main
tanning the committee of 100 hers
amounts to about $1,10O each day
D you expect a strike to bt
called?" he was asked.
Well" he replied. experience
of the past has demonstrated tha'
about one In a thousand threatened
strikes OF railroad employees becomes
effective. Usually the grievancei
are adjusted"
Mr.. Sines stated that he and tht
vice presidents of the two other or
~ganizations involved are opposed te
submitting the electriflcation griev
ance to arbitration or mediation
He would not say, however. tina
the general committee might take
the same view of the situation.
THE Pennsylvania Railroad" HI
continued. lis evidently In thu
wrong and has broken faith with III
by not placing eight of u crews
on the electric system between Parl
Place, Newark and Church street
New York. On the percentage O.
mileage, under our old contract, We