The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-08-17
Big STRIKE IMPENDS
ON ALL RAILROADS
-Four Brotherhoods Make Unprec.
edented Wage Demand.
ASK FOR S1oO,OOO,0oo A YEAR

All Plans For Settlement Have Been
Rejected by Brotherhood Leaders,
Who Are Now Engaged In Taking
Strike Vote and viii Return For An.
other Conference Early In August.
The most important strike vote In the |
history OF labor disputes is now being .
taken by the more than 100000 engi /
neers. conductors, iiremen and brake. /
men employed on the railroads OF the |
United States to enforce their demand |
for an Increase in wages estimated 10y |
the railroad managers at SlO0O0O,OOo a |
year.
In many ways the situation thus ere.
ated is absolutely unprecedented New.
er before has a demand for so large
raise In pay been presented to a single
| group of employers at one time.
! II the employees vote to leave the
service the leaders OF the four train
service brotherhoods will have the
power to declare the biggest strike ever
experienced.
Never before has strike on all the
]
seriously threatened. The big four"
brotherhoods of train employees have
heretofore confined their concerted
wage movements to one section OF the
country at n time, and while the engi.
neers and tiremen or the conductors
and brakemen have frequently Joined
I'm such movements this is the first case
In which all four organizations have
combined to enforce an increase In
wages.
While the demands apply only TO
freight and switching service. except.
ing the passenger service. all of the
employees who are members of the or.
ganizations. as well as all nonunion
train employees. are being called upon
to vote for strike.
The train employees are demanding
an eight hour basic" day-in other
words. that they shall be paid the same
wage for eight hours or 100 miles or
less that they now receive for ten
hours or 100 miles or less. This would
make the hourly rate one-eighth OF
days pay or the equivalent of twelve
and one-half miles instead OF one-tenth
of days pay or the equivalent Of ten
miles. They also demand time and
one-half for overtime" or rate OF pay
, so per cent higher than the regular
rate, for all time over eight hours or
over the time which would be required
, to complete trip at a speed Of twelve
and one-half miles per hour.
The demands were formulated by a
committee OF the executive officers or
the four brotherhoods In Chicago last
= December. md were first submitted to
e a referendum vote Of the men. The
}. demands were formally served on the
v roads on March 80. with request that
the railroads appoint conference COM
mittee representing all the roads to ne
gotiate with committee representing
: the organizations.
u The railroads promptly replied with
t q notice that In connection with the
d proposals Of the employees they de-
~ sired to have considered certain provi
sions In the present schedules, which
II continued in connection with the
IL higher basis Of pay, would lead to I'M
c fair results and In many cases would
(. multiply the inequities Of double com
pensation for the same time or serv
!. ice. Arrangements were made for Q
conference to be held Mt New York be
ginning on June for the purpose Of
W discussing the demands. The roads
81 were represented by the national con
ference committee OF the railways anc
= the employees by the executive ON
GERS and general chairmen Of the fouI
brotherhooGs. The conference lastel
two weeks. The brotherhood leader
refused TO consider any modification o
their demands and the railroads were
unwilling 10 grant further large In
crease In wages to the highest pai'
class of their employees without
mandate from some tribunal represent
ing the public. On June II the con
ference committee gave the brother
hoods n formal reply declining L
grant the demands. but proposing tina
the entire controversy be settled, pref
crably by submission of the ent!r
question to the interstate commerc
commission or else by arbitration IN
der the Newlands law. BotIi plans 10
Il settlement were rejected by tn
brotherhood leaders. who announce
their intention OF taking a strike yot
and returning for another conference
early In August