The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-10
MEN DISCHARGED
FOR TAKING STEPS
TOFORM A UNION
Street Railway Company
Has Already Let 80 Go
for Their Activity
NO GRIEVANCE is
FOUND AMONG MEN
Company Believes That at Least AOG
Out of 500 Employees Will Remain
Loyal - Bodeker Cancels
Washington Trip

for listening to the siren call of ,,nir
organizers 80 employees of tho Birmingham,
haii"ay, Light and Power company have
peeh discharged. Proceeding upon tha
same theory as did the city of Rirn,,ry
nam In the recent attempt to organize the
hrefheh' the Birmingham Railway, Light
and Power company will not countenance
union organization. And IL is state,
'hose employees who undertake 20 form a
union VIII be discharged as the others
have been.
IN the strike which has been talked
curing the past few days it is believed hv
OFFICIALS that of the 500 or more line en.
pioyes, 400 will remain loyal to the com
pany. The company has made no state
nent but the general opinion is that ths
owners of the 40 miles of track operated
py the Birmingham Railway, Light and
foWer company hold that as a public SER
vice corporation it cannot in the dis
charse OF Its duty to the public. allow a
union to be formed among its line en-
ployes.
Listened to Unemployed Men
Inc developments yesterday consisted
only In the discharge of some emnloves
VINO listened to the advice said to have
oeeh given by some union carpenters that
nave tailed to get their jobs back since tha
recent strike. 1t is claimed by those in
'ouoh WIN the situation from the general
civic standpoint that the carpenters vino
fomented the recent strike ard ,,,h,,
upon adjustment were not re-ennIoved
nave sotteh among the mo.o-men and con-
auctofs ana stirred up the talk of a strike
Ny nose men. Their efforts, 1t Is as
serted, resulted in a few men Indicating
u willingness to start the union. These
men were Immediately discharged by the
company. 1t is said no union erga NIGER
OF street car unions has yet Appeared on
tue scene No attempt has been made 70
get sttlkebi oakers in case OF trouble. The
latter step has not been considers it Is
asld' Tor the reason that The Birmingham
RAILWAY Light ana Power company feels
that great majority OF Its employees will
remain on their Jobs
The officials OF tho company ,vero re
quested yesterday TO make a staten. M Of
the situation for tho Information or m.
public Remembering the experiences OF
SIX years ago some merchants and BUSH
ness men were anxiously seeking informa.
ton az 10 line merits of the alleged
trouble. Tho officials OF the COMPANY
would not mako any statement. More.
over, 1t Is said none will be made at this
time even IL a strike Is called.
no Grievance Disclosed
Investigations yesterday failed 10 els
close any grievance on the part OF the
motormen or conductors. Their compensa-
ton. II Is asserted by tho men themselves.
has been increased three times during the
past few ys0rs. Tho company in order to
provide adequately for its extra men. who
work few hours per day and sometimes
not at all, has established scale os
wages tor nine hours wecls. which is paid
whether the extra man move out OF the
barn or not. This step was talson, il was
stated yesterday, for the sole protection
OF those men who accept employment OF
the company and who would not earn
enough by the extra vofk to provide
properly for their living In a city
In connection with the ceaseless rumors
OF yesterday II developed that the latest
plan was for tbs men TO Quit Wednesday.
IT woc also reported that John Shay an
organizer. was here. This Is untrue. 81
MIR. Shay Is in Buffalo.
Chief OF Police @. IT. Bodeker, who
planned 10 attend the chiefs convention
In Washington, has abandoned that trip
In order to handle shs situation haze is
any trouble starts.
Chcf EodelSer gfaees tha. from reports
he has heard he fears strike vii. soon
he called. but that he is Keeping close
watch and that every faction will Le
given to understand at the very outset
that no vioencs of any kind will be per-
mitted. II is well known that a street
car strike is harder to handle from q po-
lice standpoin. than almost any o.her
form Of strike, but Chief BoGeker states
the whole matter lies In having large
enough police force. and IL he can tlays
enough men he will see that thers is nc
trouble.