The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1916-03-17
THE EMPLOYEES CONTEN.
TON.

TON.
The idea of having an eight hour
day for men employed, in engine,
train, and yard service is not a new
thought 1t has been discussed for
several years in lodge and division
rooms and among groups of members
of the four great realroad labor or
carnations employed in engine, train
and yard service throughout the
United States, Canada and Mexico.
More than 20 years ago a brother
railroad man whose Judgment and
foresight has always been considered
by his fellow workers as being above
that OF the average man, stated that
the eight hour day was thing most
needed by the men who handled the
railroad traffic, and he believed that,
eventually, it would be accomplished.
He stated that also in his opinion,
1T would go further toward lessening
| the wear and tear" of the long hours
suffered by the men than anything
else he could think of. And the
prophecy is working out as he pre-
dicted it would. The conductors and
trainmen were ready two years ago to
take part i'll movement similar to
the present one, but the engineers and
tiremen were not then at liberty to
cooperate with them, and thus the
movement was held back until now.
| The request of the men for an eight
hour day is based wholly upon the
justice OF work day of reasonable
hours that will permit the men fur
Their to separate the dead line between
work and wages. The railroads saw
In effect that men who have put in a
few years in railroad service have ont.
lived their usefulness and will not be
accepted if they lose their positions.
General Managers Hold Conference
When 1t became known that the
proposition for an eight hour dav and
time and half had been submitted
to the employees in train service, the
managers of the railroads called =
conference and made public state.
ments that were greatly exaggerated
and in consequence, the chief execu-
tNes met IN Cleveland and took
up each phase of the proposed eight
hour day, and while the members Of
the various orders stood for it the
statement follows:
Why the Eight Hour Dav2
| The demad is fair. All of the lead
ing industries in trade, railroads. ex-
cepted, have recognized the econo-
mic justice of the eight hour day. We
believe 1t can be adopted with no
greater inconvenience by the rail
roads than accompanied its introduc-
ton INTO other employments.
III men are worked out in a few
years under present service condi-
tons, as the railroads in effect de-
clare, the demand 10 extend their
wage earning years are fully iusti-
fled.
Extra Pay for Extra Work"
Overtime in railroad service is
due almost wholly to the practice Of
railroads overlooking trains so that
they cannot make the mileage within
their time limits. The ~ roads are
dong tbs for profit; they do not deny
IT. and they propose to demand ex-
ira service at the sacrifice of the
health and future earning ability of
the employees they should paw ex-
ira tor 1t. The payment of overtime
applies with particular force to the
yards where the companies can REQ.
ulate their work so that their own in
tereSt and the men have perfect
right to demand time and one-half
for that service.
Shorter Work Day Real Want.
The railroads contend that the
hour jobs to prive it. If the Companies
men are not sincere in their demands
Tor shorter work-day; they declare
they want wage increase rather than
time decrease, and refer to a small
number of men who prefer the extra