The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-21
Car Men Say That Crews OIL
the Early Runs, Nearly All
Old Employees, Get Benefit
From Increase.
LIVING WAGES THE
DEMAND OF CARMEN
"A Threat to Quit Work Un-
less a Fair Increase in Wag-
es Is Made BY the Street
Car Corporation.

Although the threatened street car
car men gave out statements today
that they are not satisfied with the
wage increase granted by the COM
pany. They say they asked for three
cent raise and received only cent in
crease, which they claim Is not
enough. They also say the early run
men have been benefited the most
by the raise, to the detriment Of the
men on the evening runs.
The raise given the car men pro-
vides for the following scale: 1S
cents the first year.. 10 cents the
second year, 20 cents the third year,
21 cents the fourth year and % cents
on and after the fifth year.
According to a number of car en-
ployes, superintendent Gordon gave
them anything but fair deal on their
demands for a raise. They claim he
called in the older men, the men who
have the early and longer runs, and
announced a schedule which really
meant an increase of two cents per
hour for, and which satisfied, the
The late run men, who do not work
as long as the other men, allege they
receive under the new rates an in
crease which amounts to only one cent
per hour in almost every case, and it
is pointed out that Mr.. Gordon by ar
ranging for his conference with the
early run men, broke up the threaten
ed strike by satisfying part of the
car crews. They claim Gordon prom
ised to take the matter up with all of
them, but failed to do SO and num-
ber of the late run men assert that
they must be given satisfactory treat
ment. -.t..
The majority of the runs in the city,
with the exception of the belt car run,
averages nine hours. This enables the
early run men who come under the 5
year rate, who work from $50 to 2:30,
to make slightly over 81 per day, or
$14 week of seven days. A first year
man makes but $1.62 a day or $11.34 a
week of seven days, averaging the
runs at nine hours
The late run men, who average less
Than nine hours day, receive on the
per hour or Sill per day or $11.97 per
week of seven days. They point out
that this sum is very small compared
to the wages paid to men in other en-
ployments. The car men are compell-
ed to buy their own uniforms, but ex-
ira clothes for all kinds of weather,
work seven days a week, and all for
an average wage of approximately
$12 per week. Many of the men have
families and they claim they cannot
support them on such a wage scale.
The men point out that it is neces-
Gordon is very much mistaken IL he
believes the car men are satisfied
with the wages they are to receive af-
ter the first of May on the new wage
scale.
The men state they did not threaten
to strike, but all had agreed to resign
and hunt work elsewhere If an in
crease was not granted, and they say
that many of them may yet do so If
q further increase is not provided.
The men point on that it is neces-
sary for them to work for five years
before they can earn twenty-five cents
per hour. wages ordinarily paid to un-
skilled laborers in almost any branch
of employment. 1t is highly probable
that another delegation of car men will
call on the traction officials in the
near future. and demand that more
consideration be given to the men on
the late hour runs.