The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-09-18
4 LONG FIGHT FOR RIGHT.
How Persistency Under Great Difficult
ties Finally Achieved Success.
Growth of the Observation-Disclosures
and Benefits.

Growth of the observation-disclosures
and Benefits.
Street and Electric Railway Employees
Of America was organized in 1892. but
the panic of 1893 practically swept
1t out of existence, writes William ID.
Mahon, president in the American
Federationist In 1894 there were not
over 1000 members in good standing
During the year 1897 the organization
began to advance slowly in member
ship until today we have throughout
the United States and Canada POT To-
cal organizations in good standing and
perfect working condition One hun
dred and eighty eight of these local di-
visions have written working agree
ments with the various companies Of
the United States and Canada. and the
other divisions are working upon vol
untary and IL written understanding.
These written agreements specify
wages. hours OF labor and working
conditions They also provide for ar
bitration as means OF settling dis
putes
The association now has two publ
cations-the Motorman and Conductor,
a monthly publication that IS circulat-
ed to all the membership outside OF
the city of Chicago; In the city of Chi
cago the association publishes a week
ly publication known as the Union
Leader, and the joint circulation of
the two publications is over 100000
per month.
The work of the organization in the
way of wages and working conditions
has been, when we consider every
thing surrounding the occupation
very successful. The maximum wage
Mt the time of organization was about
IA cents an hour, the minimum run
ming as low as 8 cents. Today the
maximum received by our member
ship under contract is 45 cents an
hour. The minimum ranges about %
cents per hour. The majority of oul
members receive between % and sc
cents an hour. Al the time of the
formation of our organization the
hours of labor were from a minimum
of twelve TO a maximum of eighteen
hours Il day, the average workday be
ing about fourteen hours At the pres
ent time the hours run from mini
mum OF eight to ii maximum of twelve
On the interurban and suburban lines
the workday for motormen and con
ductors is from eight to nine hours
while In city service the great majori
ty Of the men are working from eight
to ten hours Il day. the maximum MOI
exceeding twelve The great majority
work nine hours a day. On a great
many Of the systems time and hall
to double time is paid for overtime.
The report of the officers at the last
convention, held at Salt Lake City IL
September 1913, showed that the in
crease in wages for our membership
for the year from Sept l. 1912, to Aug
81, 1913, had been $5,066.070. The or
ganization has established death, dis
ability and old age benefits. For the
two years from Sept, |, 1911, to Aug
81, 1913. there was paid out by the i'll
ternational organization in death anC
disability benefits $20S, 100 During
the six months from Aug. |, 1913, t
Jan. 81. 1914. there was paid out il
death and disability benefits $T3,93S
In addition to this amount paid by th'
international organization the local di
visions pay considerable sum II
death and disability benefits. For i'll
stance, the Detroit local upon the deatl
OF a member assesses all its member
ship an assessment Of 81, and the to
tai amount is paid to the beneficiary
There are over $500 members in thi
division, and during the year of 191;
they paid out over $4,000. Cleveland
Rochester and a number of other divi
sions have the same policy. Some 0
the divisions pay 81 on the death of
member, 80 cents on the death Of
members wife and % cents on th
death of a members child. A grea
number of the organizations pay a sic
benefit ranging from So to 81 a week
Others that do not have the regula
sick benefit donate to their member
when needed, and there is paid out b
benefits, independent Of that paid b
the international organization, owe
$4,000 year.