The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1922-10-26
RAlEwAY CLERKS MAY
TAKE STRIKE BALLOT

g1nlZoJlOnS IOr oOhbhuuahSo " AosSo
of pay and working conditions In ef-
feet for the past year or more, has
been considerably ruffled by the ac-
ton Of representatives Of the clerks,
freight handlers and station employees,
who have demanded equal considera-
ton at the hands Of the management.
The general committee Of the
Brotherhood of Railway and Steam
ship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Ex-
press and Station Employees now is
engaged in a series of conferences
with the management Of the Rock
Island in Chicago, in which confer
ences a readjustment Of rates in eff
feet as of June Both, 1922, prior to
the recent reductions recommended
by the United States Railroad Board;
is sought.
It has been the contention of these
employees all along that the cuts in
pay recommended by the Labor
Board were unjust; that neither the
trend of living costs nor other rele-
want circumstances were in the right
direction to justify any reduction in
pay whatever. This, coupled with
the fact that the railroad has not
slashed the pay Of other classes and
has agreed not to do so at least until
October, 1928, has made the clerks
insistent upon similar consideration
at the hands of the railroad.
1t still is hoped that an adjustment
may be arrived at but advices to To-
cal officials of the union here indi-
cate that there is considerable like
lihood of strike.
Personally we do not believe in
strikes, possibly there was time in
the industrial world when there were
no other means available to settle the
disputes between employer and en-
ploye, but we think this time is past.
| know there is great many union
men who do not agree with me and
| give them credit for their belief,
but under present conditions, l think
it unwise for any labor organization
to strike, and yet fully realize that
the Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks
are justified in protesting on accept
ance of decision of the Labor Board,
known as Number 1914, or the wage
cut of June 30th, 1922. 1t is not gen.
orally known that the railway clerk
as class are the lowest paid employee
on the railroad with one exception.
Also it is fact that the railroad will
not cut the pay of some other classes,
but their pay and working conditions
will remain the same until October,
1928. The organized railway clerks
cannot be classed in the same class as
employees in outside industries, due
to the fact that they have special
training to handle this class Of work.
We will take the yard clerk in the av-
erage terminal; he handles several
trainloads Of high class freight per
day, such as autos, fruits Of all kinds,
etc. In his average days
work several of those cars are d.
verted IN route, name Of consignee
routing changed, etc. 1t all
requires his special care and attention
as he is held responsible for any err
rors he makes as mistakes OF this
kind are costly to the carrier. The
same is true of the seal clerks, who
have to look after the protection OF
all cars in transit; also to see that all
cars requiring ice are properly iced.
The same is true Of the rate clerk,
bill clerk, cashier, etc. All of this
takes special training for the sever
al positions and for this reason our
wages cannot be compared with labor
in outside industries. Now do not
me. We do not think
we are above the common laborer or
the clerk in the down town office, for
we are all brothers and sisters in the
industrial world. We are simply fight
ing for better standard of living,
and better working conditions. If we
win you receive your share of the ben
cit. If we lose and organized labor
is crushed, the Lord pity us both.
At this time the public is against
strikes of every kind and the nearer
organized labor stays with public
opinion the better off it will be for II
we have the full confidence Of the
United Public on our side, we can
win any reasonable demands against
the powers that would crush us. For
this reason, ] do mot think II would
be wise to call strike at this time
and tie up the entire system, as 1t
certainly would do II each and every
clerk wuold leave his desk today, as,
/ am proud to say, the Rock Island is
nearly 100 per cent organized. Sin
ceralv and fraternallv.