The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-04-04
Eight Hour Day Demand.


of the four classes of men :
in railroad train service SUBJ
mitted to the companies demands
covering change in the basis of wage /
which, the carriers say, will !
add, if agreed to, 500, 900 per an
mum 70 operating costs. In Philadel- |
phia and elsewhere, the trainmen were
given substantially the same counter
from the railroads.
The propositions will lead on to con-
ferences. For the trainmen, their
brotherhood officers are authorized to
press the demands. Failing to get
them the next step will be to take
mem bership vote to determine whether
a general strike is favored to enforce
such demands. The demands which
passed Thursday to the Pennsylvania
Railroad from a committee were as fol-
lows;
This is to advise that employees en-
ployed by the Pennsylvania Railroad
have instructed the authorized COM
mittee of the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen, Or
der of Railway Conductors and Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen to pre-
sent to you the attached proposition
as a revision of the schedules now in
force and effect on our line governing
employees in the classes of service
indicated therein.
In accordance with the terms of our
present agreements, kindly accept this
as the official notice of our desire to
revise to the extent named, our pres
ent schedules or agreements.
We request that you join with other
railway arrangements in the United
States and enter into a collective
movement for the purpose of handling
this proposition at one and the same
time through joint committee rep
resenting all railroads concerned, and
we are instructed to advise you that
the organizations stand ready to do
likewise.
This proposition is being presented
to other roads in the territory on the
same date this request is made upon
our line, and it is desired that answer
to our proposal be made in writing to
the undersigned committee on or be-
fore April 29th, 1916.
In submitting this proposition we
desire that it be understood that all
rates, rules and conditions in our
agreements not specifically affected by
these proposed amendments shall re-
main unchanged, subject to changes
in the future by negotiations as has
been the case in the past with proper
officials and committees.
1t is our request that all lines or d.
visions of railway operated or control
led by the Pennsylvania Railroad shall
be included in these negotiations and
that any agreement reached shall ap-
ply alike to all such lines of railway.
1t is understood that any settlement
| of these questions that may be agreed
upon by this cooperative movement
will not become effective on roads
where agreements or arbitration
awards exist until the expiration of
the period therein.
Article /. (a) In all road service
100 miles or less, hours or less will
constitute day, except in passenger
| service. Miles in excess of 100 will
be paid for at the same rate per mile.
(b) On runs of 100 miles or less
overtime will begin at the expiration
of hours.
(c) On runs of over 100 miles,
overtime will begin when the time on
duty exceeds the miles run divided
by 1914 miles per hour.
| Id All overtime to be computed
on the minute basis and paid for at
time and one-half time the pro rata
rate.
(e) No one shall receive less for
/ eight hours or 100 miles than they
now receive for a minimum day OF
100 miles for the class of engine used
or for service performed.
/ (f) Time will be computed contin-
uously from time required for duty
until released from duty and RESPONSE
bility at end of day or run.
| Article 2. (a) hours or less will
constitute day in all yard and switch
ing service. The minimum days pay
for hour yards shall not be less
than the present days pay for 10
hour yards. Provided that in yards
having a minimum day of more than
10 hours, the present days pay as in
effect January l, 1916, will be con-
tinued with the eight hour day.
(b) Time to be computed continu-
ously from time required for duty I'M
til released from duty and response
bility at end of day or run. All over
hours within any "a hour period to
be computed and paid for at the rate
of time and one-half time.
(c) All overtime to be computed on
| the minute basis.
Article 8. (a) Eight hours or less
at present 10 hours pay, will consti-
tute days work in hosting service.
(b)' Time to be computed continu-
ously from time required for duty I'M
| til released from duty and response
II hs1ffxx 81 ard .f dow III
hours within any "a hour period to
be computed and paid for at the rate
of time and one-half time.
(c) All overtime to be computed
on the minute basis.
Article 4. Any rates of pay includ-
ing excess mileage or arbitrary diff
ferentials that are higher, or any rules
or conditions of employment contain
ed in individual schedules in effect
January 1, 1916, that are more fav-
orable to the employees, shall not be
modified or affected by any settlement
reached in connection with these pro-
posals. The general committee rep
resenting the employees on each rail
road will determine which is prefer
able and advise the officers of their
company. Nothing in the settlement
that may be reached on the above sub
mitted articles is to be construed to
| deprive the employees on any railroad
from retaining their present rules and
accepting any rates that may be
agreed upon or retaining their present
rates and accepting any rules that
may be agreed upon.
OFFER COUNTER PROPOSALS /,
The company Immediately counter
ed by handing the trainmen's commit
tee the following proposition:
Your proposition of March Both,
giving notice of your desire to revise
present wage schedules and agree
ments, according to certain proposals
made a part of that notice, has this
| day been received.
Your request that this Company
| join in a concerted movement with
other roads will be given consideration
and you will be advised of the de-
cision as soon as practicable.
The present standards of rates and
working conditions have been very
largely fixed by mediation and arbi-
tration, and this Company feels that
they are adequate and even liberal to
the employees. This Company has no
desire to change either the existing
rates of pay or the working rules, nor
to reduce the earning possibilities of