The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-06-18

y
half Il century ago a little band of*
street car men met in indianapolis and
formed what has become one of the
most progressive democratic ira de
trade unions in existence
Union Bitterly Fought
The magazine goes on to say:
mo other organization in the labor
movement has been faced with greater
struggles than our own; no other
union has been so bitterly opposed by
powerful employers. Yet today wei
stand at the threshold of our golden
our organizational strength with al
record in the field of collective bargain
ing second to none
The story of the unions present
strength is told in the Magazines an
nual contract review, containing brief
summaries of the wages and working
conditions provided in 40 contracts be-
tween local, intercity and interstate
transit and bus companies and the
unions local divisions.
Impressive Figures" Cited
"A comparison of this review with
the one published last year will dis
close some impressive figures" says
the magazine. 1t continues, in part:
''The number of agreements in effect
has increased by 10 per cent. 1t is esti-
mated that in 1941 our members Sc
cured through negotiation and arbitra-
ton the startling wage gain of S15,OO4,-
44O0O, an average over all of six cents
an hour.
Three hundred and eighty-on one con-
tracts now provide annual vacations
with pay, covering something more
than 80 per cent of our entire member
ship There was Il 81 per cent gain in
the number of agreements providing
two weeks vacations-2OO against 13O
the previous year. In addition 119 con-
tracts provide for Il week with pay an
nually and two provide for three
weeks.
Big Union Shop Gain
"Our progress in extending the union
shop is indicated by the total of IT'S
exclusive bargaining agreements with
the union shop clause as compared with
216 in 1940-a gain of more than 2S
per cent. ... -.,. g. h.Eiqs
Group insurance is provided for
members employed on 29S properties
Il gain of 2S in Il year. The provisions
vary-in some cases the employer pays
the entire premium; in others the en-
ployer and employees share this expense
and i'm a few instances the employees
themselves pay the premiums. Prac-
tically all of the policies provide for
payment in event of death and large
ma iority of them cover sickness and
disqualification expenses.
There was Il gain of II per cent in
the number of divisions whose mem
bers receive pensions, most of which
are financed by the employer and
which supplement social security. One
hundred and twelve divisions so re-
ported against 100 the year before And
the members of II divisions now come
under the Railroad Retirement Act,
against II in 1910.
Record '"TO Cheer About"
Commenting on the Amalgamated's 5
progress, the MOtOrman, Conductor and
Motor Coach Operator says:
These are but Il few current high
lights in Il story of progress that is I'M
paralleled. In war and in peace, in
good times and bad, the Amalgamated
Association has fought increasingly to
raise the economic status of the men
and women in the transit industry.
''Ilow successful has been the effort
is shown in the recent report of wages
paid i'm On-manufacturing industries.
Street railways and bus lines lead them
all. for the first time on record.
THAT. we believe, is something to
cheer about. for it was made possible
only by organized effort