The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-09-14
BIG STRIKE IMPENDS
ON ALL RAILROADS
Four Br0therhoods Make Unprec.
edented Wage Demand.
ASK FOR 100000, 900 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 managers at $1OO,OO0,OOO
year.
In many ways the situation thus Gre
ated is absolutely unprecedented. New
er before has demand for so large
raise in pay been presented to single
group of employers at one time.
If 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 all 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 time, and while the engi
neers and firemen 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
of a days pay or the equivalent OF ten
miles. They also demand time and
one half for overtime" or rate of pay
80 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 speed of twelve
and one-half miles per hour.
The demands were formulated by a
committee Of the executive officers OF
the four brotherhoods in Chicago last
December, and were first submitted to
a referendum vote of the men. The
demands were formally served on the
roads on March 30, with a request that
the railroads appoint conference COM
u,ittee 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 I'M
fair results and in many cases would
multiply the inequities Of double COM
pensation for the same time or sery-
ice. Arrangements were made for
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 foul
brotherhoods. The conference lasted
two weeks. The brotherhood leaders
refused to consider any modification Of
their demands and the railroads were
unwilling to grant a further large in
crease in wages to the highest paii
class Of their employees without {
mandate from some tribunal represent
ing the public. On June Is the con
ference committee gave the brother
hoods formal reply declining t.
grant the demands. but proposing tina
the entire controversy be settled, pref
erably by submission of the entir'
question to the interstate commerce
commission or else by arbitration I'm
der the Newlands law. Both plans TO
q settlement were rejected by thu
brotherhood leaders, who announce;
their intention of taking strike vot
and returning for another conference
early in August.