The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-09-04
STORY OF A union
Work of the Street Railway Mems
Organization.
A LONG FIGHT FOR RIGHT.

How Persstency Under Great Difficult
ties Finally Achieved Success.
Growth of the Associaton-Wage
and Benefits.
The Amalgamated Association of
Street and Electric Railway Employees
of America was organized in 1899, but
the panic of 1898 practically swept
it out of existence, writes William d.
Mahon, president. in the American
Federatonist. 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 POI 10.
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 unwritten understanding.
These written agreements specify
wages, hours of labor and working
conditions. They also provide for ar
bitration as a 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 week
ly publication known as the Union
Leader, and the joint circulation of
the two publications is over 10000
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
at 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 40 cents an
hour. The minimum ranges about %
cents per hour The majority of our
members receive between % and 80
cents an hour. At the time of the
formation of our organization the
hours Of labor We're from a minimum
of twelve to a maximum of eighteen
hours a day. the average workday be-
ing about fourteen hours. At the pres
ent time the hours run from a mini
mum of eight to a 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 MAORI
ty of the men are working from eight
to ten hours a day, the maximum not
exceeding twelve The great majority
work nine hours day. On a great
many of the systems time and half
to double time is paid for overtime.
The report of the officers at the last
convention, held at Salt Lake City in
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,O66,O7O. The or
ganization has established death, dis
ability and old age benefits For the
two years from Sept l, 1911, to Aug.
81, 1913. there was paid out by the in
terna tional organization in death and
disability benefits sos, $50 During
the six months from Aug, l, 1918, to
Jan. 81, 1914, there was paid out in
death and disability benefits $73,93S
In addition to this amount paid by the
international organization the local di-
visions pay considerable sum in
death and disability benefits. For in
of 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 this
division, and during the year of 1913
they paid out over S33 5000 Cleveland,
Rochester and number of other divi-
sionS have the same policy. Some of
the divisions pay 81 on the death of
member, 30 cents on the death of a
members wife and % cents on the
death of members child A great
number of the organizations pay a sick
benefit ranging from So to 81 a week.
Others that do not have the regular
sick benefit donate to their members
when needed, and there is paid out by
the local divisions in sick and death
benefits, Independent of that paid by
the international organization, over
$4,000 year.