The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-07-15
S.P. PENSION SYS-
TEN ENDANGERED

The following editorial appears in
todays issue of the Southern Pacific
Bulletin:
Let us take counsel together.
Do you know that the pension sys-
tenn is in danger? 1t was devised for
the purpose of enabling employees of
the company who have rendered long
and faithful serveice to retire when
they have reached an age requiring
relief from duty. One of the pension
rules is that those who leave the SER
vice lost any further claim to pension.
The aim of the pension plan is to
show in a practical and grateful way
the appreciation of the company for
those employees who have given the
best years of their life so well to the
company. The reward is for the full
fillment of faithful and continuous du-
| ty. Its essence is long and unbroken
service. The employe who quits his
job. of his own accord, gives up his
right to expect such reward.
At this time we would fail in
| friendly duty to the men and women
in the service if we forgot to remind
them of dangers they can escape.
You cannot quit the service and
maintain your pension rights. Yon
cannot abandon your work, leaving
the company, the train service and the
public to their fate, and be faithful to
the company or anything connected
with it at the same time.
Enginemen, trainmen and switch
men have demanded changed sched-
ules and increased wages. The rail-
way managers have been compelled to
decline the demands, but have offered
to arbitrate all the points at issue en-
braced within the demands. Notwith-
standing this. the representatives of
the organizations are taking a strike
vote. The strike is suggested although
the men know that this company is
not responsible for the agitation and
1t has no desire to change existing
rates of pay or working conditions to
the disadvantage of the employees
This has not prevented the company
from offering to arbitrate, because of
its desire to maintain harmonious and
friendly relations with its employees.
That desire the company has always.
On the other hand, when a man
strikes he leaves his work. He aban-
dons his company to get along as best
/
own.
Can any man quit his work of his
own will and still be considered as
giving continuous service or have fll-
ture claims upon his employer? Can
any man abandon the company and
its property and still claim to be rem
dering the company faithful service
No man can go back upon his trust
and be faithful to it at the same time !;
he cannot be facing both ways. The
terms faithful service" and "contin-
uous service" would become a mock
cry under such circumstances and a
delusion of which it is our purpose in
| this article to ask all concerned to
take heed.
The question is even more serious
than this, for it brings the whole pen
sion plan into question If it proves to
be of so little value to the employees.
Remember that. too.
There is no use dodging the facts
The responsibilities of old age are toe
serious not to be faced openly. The
loss of the pension is one of the most
heartbreaking results of a strike for
the man who walks out Hasty action
leads to regret 1t is better to think
the matter over. weighing the factors
carefully, before making a decision
To strike is to abandon everything
employer now. and well-earned relie
later, from the cares of the future
Let us ask every man and woman
who reads this to remember that the
pension plan has been a free-will Of
fering from the company to the mer
and women for whose old age the
company has desired to make pro-
vision. 1t costs the company between
100000 and 100000 annually. L
costs the employees nothing. 1t brings
to their old age comfort; it brings
family pride instead of pitiful depen
dence; it brings the glow of satisfac
ton to the family home and hearth
and yet it costs the employe nothing
The only requirement that the com
pany makes is continuous and faith
full service. That is the only price
Men and women who depend upon the
Southern Pacific for your needs anC
your comforts. is the price too high
If you are in doubt, ask the men anC
women of the Veteran COrnS