The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-01-14
PLAN NATIONAL.
RAILWAY STRIKE
Membership Of Big Brother
hoods Voting on Proposal.
WOULD PARALYzE NATION
Labor Organizations Involved Number
More Than 100000 Men--universal
Eight Hour Day and Increase of
Wages Objects of Movement - De-
rand Likely to Be Made Next May

wages Objects OF Movement - De-
mand Likely to Be Made Next May
The 45S railroads OF the United
States were brought face to face with
the eight hour day when executive
committees OF the four great railroad
labor organizations which had been sit
ting in joint session at Chicago for
two weeks formulated demands for a
cut TO eight hours from the prevailing
ten hour day. Time and a half for
overtime also will be asked
Resolutions embodying the demands
Were mailed 10 every member of the
four brotherhoOdS on the first OF the
year for referendum vote. The mem
bership will have sixty days In which
to return the ballots
If the demands be approved. and
chiefs OF the several associations say
there is no question as 10 their APP
proval. the executive committees will
draw up the demands for submission
TO the general managers OF the rail
roads
The last OF the contracts OF the engi-
neers and firemen and those Of the
western railroads expire May II next.
and that is the date mentioned as the
probable time for presenting the de
mands
The membership OF the organizations
involved numbers more than 100000
men. These organizations are back OF
the campaign for the universal eight
hour day: Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers. brotherhood OF Locomotive
Firemen and Engineers. order of Rail
road Conductors and Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen. The move is an
outgrowth OF agitation that has been
sweeping over the country for year
and is said to he the greatest labor dis
pute ever advanced in any occupation
In the general campaign to bring
about the eight hour day action was
taken separately BY the three divisions
the eastern. southern and western
A joint conference was then held and
the imaginary sectional lines OF the
employees We're wiped out. 1t is pro
posed that one settlement be made at
the same time between the railroads
and all employees in the transportati ton
service.
The movement toward this amalga
nation OF the eastern. southern and
western division OF the employees and
the resultant demands TO be voted on
by the membership follow recent arbi
tration awards i'll the eastern and west
ern railroad sections.
1t was broadly hinted when the west
ern decision giving the engineers and
fremen only a small portion OF the
wage increase asked was announced
May l. 1919, that the railroad men
would renew their demands in force
when the terms Of the award expired.
May l, 1916.
"This time | don't think there Will
be any arbitration. said Timothy Shea.
assistant to the president OF the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Firemen "Of
course am not qualified to speak au-
to observe the temper OF the men, and
it is nay belief that they have had
enough OF SO called mediation
The principle Of arbitration is excel
lent, but il has been abused Where
the men submitted it has not been pro
ductive of the Justice for which it was
designed
AS for our intentions in the present
case, | do not think there is anything
secret about them. We are going to
demand tlatly an eight hour day and
time and half for overtime. Failing
to obtain that we viii walk out and
let the discussions come afterward.
Every railroad in the United States is
affected
Mr.. Shea was q member OF the board
of arbitration which heard the claims
of the employees of the western rail
roads in Chicago last spring. He and
r. A. Burgess. assistant grand chief OF
the Brotherhood OF Engineers. signed
minority report after the men had fail
ed to oust Charles Nage. former secre-
tary OF commerce and labor under
President Taft. from the board