The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-02-18
EXTRA PAY FOR OVERTIME.

ditions-Nearly Halt a Million Men
Arbitration.
Railroad men, both employees and
owners, are confronted with the most
important problems they have faced In
railroad history.
A referendum vote is being taken
among the members of the four great
railroad unions on the question OF pre-
country for an eight hour day, with
slime and half pay" for overtime.
The men will certainly vote to present
these demands on March l.
This situation will involve more men
than did the great coal strike; 1t VIII
Involve every railroad in this country
and some In Canada, having total In
capital securities OF more than $2O,-
OO0.Oo0.O0O.
The seriousness of the situation Is
admitted by railroad managers east
and west. The leaders of the four
demand, the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers. the Brotherhood OF Lo-
comotive Firemen and Enginemen, the
Order OF Railway Conductors and the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
which for the first time are acting as a
unit in such case. likewise realize the
seriousness Of the situation they are
precipitating and are bending all their
energies to arousing their members and
getting them to stand firm when the
matter is brought to head.
The seriousness of the situation now
shaping itself is shown by the fact that
In these four unions there are between
$4,000 and 100000 men. There are
more than 62,000 engineers. more than
65,000 firemen. more than 1900 con-
ductors and more than 10000 train
men. In the year 1914. when there
were upward of 10000 employees of
these classes on the railroads of this
country, they drew u total In wages OF
$S08,O00,00O. Their unions are the
strongest in the country in the hold
they have on their respective indus
tries and in the funds which they have
at their disposal. For the first time In
the history Of the railroads these four
unions are acting In concert, east. west
and south, In demanding a change in
the conditions of labor.
The demand. which the heads of
these unions have now submitted TO
their respective members for approval,
La not one OF rates, as previous de-
mands have been. For purposes of
collective action this would be impos-
sible Ostensibly and theoretically, il
is for a shorter working day and in
addition higher rate of remuneration
than they now get for any time work
ed In excess OF this limit.
Summed up briefly, these unions are
about to demand of the railroads of
the country, without respect to their
geographical location or physical char
acteristics, a day of eight hours in
stead of ten and pay for any time over
that at the rate Of one and half
times the pro rata rate. instead of just
the pro rata rate for overtime.
The demands for a shorter day do not
include the passenger service, and this
fact Is one Of great significance. The
passenger service Is better paid than is
the freight service, and the hours are
shorter Men graduate to 1t from the
freight service. The freight service is
by far the larger on most railroads.
About so per cent OF the men in train
work belong to this branch OF the bust
ness.
But although the present demand
upon which the referendum Is being
taken excepts those men in the pas
senger service, 1t does not except them
from supporting the demands made on
behalf of the men In the freight service
II the vote is one OF approval.
Although the leaders of the unions
have not yet disclosed their plans,
should the matter reach crisis and
eliminate in strike. 1t is known that
they have plan In mind, should this
occur, OF allowing the passenger men
to remain at work and confining their
entire attention to tying up the freight
service. Reason for this would lie In
the fact that 1t would not bring them
into collision with the United States
government over the question Of the
mails, matter which came up and
WAS settled decisively and adversely to
the union men In the Chicago strike
years ago. Uninterruption of passen-
ger service, some OF the union leaders
are said to feel. would help them with
the public.
The referendum vote now being
taken In every local in the country of
each OF the four unions Is expected to
be completed by March l. The votes
are to be counted in Chicago by a spe-
cial committee Of the unions. Should 1t
be In favor OF making the demand for
an eight hour day, as present indica-
lions point demand will be formu-
lated and served on every railroad In
the country. which Will then have
thirty days in which to answer
Under the agreements now in force
between the railroads and the unions
either side can terminate them upon
thirty days notice, 80 the demand to be
made will virtually amount to the
h9sak1ug Of Of the present contracts.