Denver labor bulletin., 1915-10-09
GIGANTIC MOVE BY
WORKERS
May Involve 100000 Members
of Four Brotherho0dS
Movement Under Way in Chicago to
Standardize Wages and Hours on
ALI Trunk Lines in u.

Word was received in Denver this
week OF stupendous movement on the
part of operating railroad employees
thruout the United States to unite in
a demand for a change in working CON
ditions that will carry increased pay of
many millions of dollars. The initial
program is being developed in Chicago
and will extend to every trunk line in
the United States. Among the principal
demands to be made are for an eight
hour day, time and one-half for over
time. an increase of from to cents an
hour for yardmen and abolition of the
rule requiring trainmen to ride on top
of freight trains.
The Order of Railway Conductors and
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen are
reported to be formulating the demands.
The two bodies represent more than 20O,-
900 railroad men-conductors. brakemen,
flagmen, switchmen, train baggagemen
and electricians.
The trainmen are not to make any
demands for an increase OF wages, but
want the basis of payment OF overtime
for passenger service changed to twenty
five miles an hour. If this concession il
made by the roads it will be the same
as an increase.
Action Starts in Chicago.
The demands for increased wages for
switehmen will start at Chicago with a
demand for an increase of cents an
hour. When the Chicago standard Is
established the movement is to be taken
up in all other switch yards of the West
and proportionate increase asked of
the railroads. Denver, Colorado Springs,
Pueblo, Leadville, Trinidad, Grand juno
tion and other cities where switchmen
are empolyed in any considerable num-
bers will be affected.
In the past it has been the custom TO
divide the country into three districts.
Eastern, Western and Southeastern, each
working for the wage increases and
changes of working conditions independ-
emily of the other. Now it is proposed
to make the demands by the three as
sociations jointly and to cover every
big line of railroad in the United States.
May Involve 100000 Men.
An effort has been made to bring in
the locomotive engineers and firemen and
make the joint demand collectively in
the name of the four great railway
brotherhoods. If this is done the move
ment will represent 10000 railroad
workers, the most stupendous movement
of the kind ever undertaken by any or
ganized body OF workers. The agree
the firemen and engineers does not ex-
pire until May IL. 1916 This prevents
the two enginemen's brotherhoois from
participating until thirty days prior to
that time, as notice must be given of
the abrogation of the agreement one
month in advance of the date of its ex-
piration.
If the trainmen and conductors decide
to go it alone. they will make their de-
mands in December. Practically every
railroad man in the West will be af-
fected directly or indirectly by the
movement and the cost to the railroads.
if the joint demands are ranted. will
run into millions of dollars.
Will Resist the Demands.
Railroads centering in Chicago are al
ready preparing to resist the movement
TO force an increase of five cents an
hour for switchmen. They say the Chi
eago switchmen are already the highest
paid in the world. Officials of the trunk
lines are making the usual claim that
in case the entire list of demands is
granted. it would result in bankruptcy
to many of the roads. They will or
ganize the biggest body of corporation
representatives ever gotten together in
America TO resist the demands of the
workmen.