The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-04-03
SPEEDUP BRINGS
ACCIDENTS, MEN
DRIVEN INSANE
Intimidated Into Giving
to "Charity"
By a Worker Correspondent.

mems union of this city. Since our
union officials helped the Cleveland
Railway Company, who have 9
monopoly on transportation in this
city and suburbs, to saddle us with
an old-age pension and insurance
plan, the lot of the carmen has
steadily become worse.
There had been strong sentiment
amongst the carmen against accept
ing the company proposition unit
our union president, Fred Schultz
announced at a special meeting
called to discuss the matter, that
it was he and our secretary with
the approval of our international
officers that first began negotia-
tions with the Metropolitan Life In
surance Company for a Retirement
and Benefit Insurance, that the
street car company got to know Of
It and stole a march on them and
were now claiming the glory"
Forced To Accept Scheme.
This statement had the desirac
effect. 1t allayed the suspicion
the men and enabled the TRACTION
bosses to put over their dirty deal
Those who refused to sign up fol
the insurance were called on the
carpet to explain. Many afraid of
losing their jobs were forced to drop
other insurance they were paying,
because they were not able to carry
the additional burden.
Speed-Up Grows.
Since this Metropolitan Insurance
went into effect, the men have been
terribly speeded up. The running
time has been cut down so much
that the conductors are forced to
hurry passengers on and off the
cars in order to keep on schedule.
This often leads to arguments and
fistic encounters between the men
and the car riders. Motormen, in
order to run their cars on time and
hold their jobs, have to take chances
with the traffic signals. Only last
week four motormen from one line
alone appeared in traffic court to
answer to charges of having vio-
'ated traffic rules. In one case
-odestrian was fatally injured by
street car when it ran through
ed light
Specd-Up Drives Men Insane.
A considerable number of the men
are now on the sicll-list; most of
them suffering from nervous trou-
lie brought on by the speed-up.
Two of them had to be sent to the
insane asylum. When carman re-
ports sick, nurse is sent to in
vestigate. These nurses are really
spies who report everything to the
boss, who in turn reports to the in
surance company.
In addition to the two dollars and
fifty cents a month that the COM
pany deducts from our wages for
the insurance plan, they are now de-
Quoting, for 1928, five dollars for
he community chest.
inundated Into Donations"
The methods used to get this
donation" amounted to intimida
lion. The company at first an
aounced that they expected at
least five dollars from every en-
ploye." Those who pledged less
were called on the carpet and CURLY
told that the company would not ac-
cept less, and told to reconsider the
matter. The money thus wrung
from the workers is distributed
among such organizations as the
Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Girl
Guides, Camp Fire Girls, YMCA,
YWCA and other reactionary out
fits. What these do not get goes
in fat salaries to the pot-bellied
plutes who have control of the
blood-money. If destitute worker
makes application to these charita-
BILE outfits for relief, he is either
riven the buns rush or the work
house.
Instead of widening the gulf that
exists between US and our employ
ars, the union officials are doing
everything possible to inoculate the
men with boss psychology in order
that they may be the more easily
Exploited.
Yellow-Dog Contracts.
The bus men in the employ of the
company are working under yellow
dog contracts. To curb the agita-
Z ton that this situation has pro-
duced, an organizer was called in
from the international office to or
ganize the men but after a "few
friendly talks" with Colonel Alex
ander, the traction president, and a
weeks sightseeing at our expense,
our brave, high-paid organizer,
Brother Shea, like the historical
Arab, packed his suitcase and faded
away.
Reactionary Officials Sabotage.
Everything possible is being done
to discourage new men from joining
the union. The reactionaries and
stool-pigeons forced through mo-
ton increasing the union dues from
S1.75 to $3.50 per month, and the
initiation fee from SIS to $40.
1t is time for the progressives
in the union to get together to be-
gin fight to put an end to this
situation, and all progressives should
IL.