Evening journal., 1916-01-20
Proposed Demands of EHgInemen and
TFainmen

Tho exact tarms of the proposed
demand that the railways pay their
engineers, fremen, trainmen and con-
ductors on the basis of an S-hour day
with time and one-half for overtime,
instead OF on the present prevailing
basis of 10 hours, as disclosed by the
letter ballots which are being dis
tributed this week for a referendum
vote Of the employees on the question
of authorizing the brotherhood Off
GERS to present the proposition to the
railroads, indicate that the purpose is
not primarily to reduce the hours Of
labor, but to increase the rate of pay
for the same amount OF work, says the
Railway Age Gazette i'm its current
issue. in other words" according to
the Gazette, after having secured all
the advances in wages that it seemed
possible to obtain by means of arbitra-
tion, the four great railroad labor or
ganizatiOns have combined to seek an
other large increase in another form
by proclaiming their refusal to arbi-
trate and threatening to call gem
eral strike on all the railroads in the
United States and Canada If their de-
mancs are not granted
The provisions of the proposition
applying to road service are:
Article /. (a) In all road service
100 miles or less, eight hours or less
will constitute a day, except in pas
senger service. Miles in excess of
100 will he paid for at the same rate
per mile. (b) On runs OF 100 miles
or less overtime will begin at the ex-
piration of eight hours. (c) On runs
Of over 100 miles overtime will begin
when the time on duty exceeds the
miles run, divided by - 1-2 miles per
hour. Cd All overtime to be COM
puted on the minute basis and paid
for at time and one-half times the
pro rata rate. (e) No one shall re-
ceive less for eight hours or 100
miles than they now receive for a
minimum day or 100 miles for the
class of engine used or for service
performed. % Time will be COM
puted continuously from time re-
quired for duty until released from
duty and responsibility at end OF day
or run"
Article provides that: Eight hour
or less will constitute a day in all ware
and switching service The minimum
days pay for S.hour yards shall not b,
less than the present days pay for 10
hour yards. Provided that in yard
having a minimum day Of more thar
10 hours the present days pay, as il
effect January l. 1916, will be continue,
with the S-hour dav."
Article ? provides that: Eight hour
OF less at present 10 hours pay will con
stitutc a days work in hostling service
Both articles provide that "all owe
eight hours within any 24-hour period
shall be computed and paid for at TIN
rate of time and one-half time.
The new plan means a % per cent.
increase in the hourly rate" says the
Railway Age Gazette. in part, with no
change In the present rates Der day
or per 100 miles, besides advancing the
time when overtime begins. and in
creasing the rate for overtime so per
cent. In fact, the increase. as COM
pared with present rates. would be
81 1-2 per cent. as a man now paid
$4.00 for 10 hours, or 40 cents an hour
would be paid at the rate of so cents
an hour under the new rules and z;
cents an hour for overtime. AS chang
ing the rate pf pay can hardly affec
the time required to run a train be
tween terminals. it is apparent tina
the eight'hour basis provided for il
these rules is vastly different from al
eight-hour working day as that tern
is commonly understood and applied il
other lines of industry. An eight
hour basis in train service means n,
reduction I'm hours OF service for mos
of those who now work more thar
eight hours day, any more than /