The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-08-25
BIG STRIKE IMPENDS
ON ALL RAILROADS
Four Brotherhoods Make Unprec-
edented Wage Demand.
ASK FOR $1OO,OOO,OOO A YEAR

All Plans For Settlement Have Been
Rejected BY Brotherhood Leaders.
Who Are Now Engaged In TAKING
Strike Vote and Will 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, firemen and brake
men employed on the railroads of the
United States to enforce their demand
for an increase In wages estimated by
the railroad manageS at 100000 a
year.
In many ways the situation thus ere
ated Is absolutely unprecedented. New
er before has demand for SO large a
raise In pay been presented to single
group of employers at one time.
IL 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 oil the
| railroads of the country even been
seriously threatened The "big four"
brotherhoods Of train employees have
heretofore confined their concerted
wage movements to one section OF the
country at a time. and while the engi-
neers and fremen or the conductors
and brakemen have frequently Joined
In 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
CARNATIONS. 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 a
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
the four brotherhoods In Chicago last
December. and were first submitted to
referendum vote of the men. The
demands were formally served on the
roads on March 80. with request that
the railroads appoint conference com
mittee representing all the roads to ne
gotiate with a committee representing
the organizations.
The railroads promptly replied with
notice that in connection with the
proposals Of the employees they de-
sired to have considered certain provi-
sions In the present schedules, which
II continued In connection with the
higher basis of pay, would lead to IN
fair results and in many cases would
multiply the inequities Of double com
pensati9n for the same time or serv,
Ice. Arrangements were made for a
conference to be held at New York be.
ginning on June for the purpose Of |
discussing the demands. The roads |
were represented by the national con-
ference committee Of the railways and |
the employees by the executive Off |
GERS and general chairmen of the four |
brctherhoods. The conference lasted |
two weeks. The brotherhood leaders |
refused to consider ANY modification of |
their demands and the railroads were |
unwilling to grant further large in. |
crease In wages to the highest paid |
class OF their employees without a |
mandate from some tribunal represent. |
ing the public. On June Is the con- |
ference committee gave the brother |
hoods formal reply declining to |
grant the demands. but proposing that |
the entire controversy be settled. pref |
erably by submission of the entire |
question to the interstate commerce
commission or else by arbitration I'M |
der the Newlands law. Both plans for
settlement were rejected by the |
brotherhood leaders, who announced |
their intention of taking a strike vote
and returning for another conference |
early in August.