Montana labor news., 1937-10-28
By A. F. Of L. News Service.

NefSdry,
BY A. f. of L. News Service.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calf. - The
Amalgamated Association of Street,
Electric Railway and Motor Coach
Employees of America opened its
twenty fifth convention here Sept.
l3 at the Civic Auditorium. Dele
gates representing local divisions
throughout the United States and
Canada were present. The recently
formed Ladies Auxiliary to the
Amalgamated Association held its
first convention here at the same
time with $50 delegates present.
Organization Work Brings Results
international President w. D. Ma
hon, in his report to the conven-
ton, drew attention to the progress
along organizational lines and to the
betterment in wages and working
conditions made possible through
the Union during the last two years,
since the 1885 convention in Detroi
In this period, 86 charters have been
granted to groups of street railway,
local and interstate bus company
employees, and 24,274 members have
been enrolled. The gathering i'm
petus of this organizational drive is
evidenced by the fact that almost
10000 of these wage earners became
members since the beginning Of 1887.
The Amalgamated Association has
been engaged in extending the bene-
fits of organization to interstate bus
operators and other employees of
the large motor stage lines through
out the country. Some 55 agree
ments have been effected with inter
state bus managements in the last
eight months.
Eight-HOur Day and High Wages
Restored
Stressing the economic progress of
the last two years, President Mahon
stated that practically every mem
Der of the Amalgamated Association
has now regained the pre-depression
high rate of wages as the result of
arbitration and negotiation. Many
local divisions have exceeded these
rates and reached new highs. The
amount of added income resulting
to the members runs into incalcul-
able millions.
The organization has been success
full in restoring the eight hour day
with time and a half for overtime
in many situations and has brought
about the forty and even thirty-six
hour week without reduction of
wages on other properties.
$1,000 Win Paid Vacations
The Amalgamated Association has
made notable strides in obtaining
paid vacations for its members.
President Mahon's report showed
that while in 1894 only eleven divi-
sions had established paid vacations,
by 1887 the members of sixty-three
local divisions were receiving paid
vacation periods ranging from seven |
to fourteen days and affecting some |
$4,000 members.
Loyal to A. F. Of L.
The Amalgamated Association has
remained loyal to the American
Federation of Labor in its fight |
against dual unionism and for pres
ervation of democracy in the labor |
movement. 1t was expected that
resolutions reaffirming this loyalty |
would be considered by the conven-
ton.
S21,75S,791 Benefits Paid
President Mahon's report pointed |
out that death, disability, and old age
benefits totaling $21, 1912 have
been paid since these funds were
established in 1896. In the last two |
years alone, 2,315 death benefit
claims, 445 old age benefit claims,
and IA disability benefit claims have
been paid.
Celebrates 45th Anniversary
This convention marks the 45th
anniversary of the Amalgamated AS
sociation of Street, Electric Railway
and Motor Coach Employees. 1t
was founded under the inspiration
of Samuel Gompers on Sept. Is,
1892. w. D. Mahon, friend and CO.
worker of Gompers throughout a
great part of his career, has been
unanimously returned to the office
of president of the Amalgamated
Association at every convention
since his election in 1893. President
Mahon, who also is member of the
Executive Council Of the A. F. of L.,
is one of the oldest leaders in the
trade union movement in point of
service.
WHY HE LIKES HIS UNION