The union times. (New Haven, Conn.) 1941-1948, 1942-12-19
1ebers Trolley Bus Operators Union Get Many Benefits

Harry Brown, correspond
ent for Division 28l, Trolley.
men and Bus Drivers. New
Haven, writing in the current
issue of The MOtOrman, Con.
duGtOr and Motor Coach Oper.
GtOr, tells of the growth of the
Division which recently OBJ.
served its 10th anniversary.
Conditions Contrasted
Thirteen street car workers were
fired for union activity i'm New Ha-
ven in 1902. This action precipi-
tated the first and only street rail
way workers strike i'm the Elm City,
and when the strike was settled
the trolleymen emerged with Divi-
sion 28l as their collective bargain
ing unit.
Proof of the value of the union
to the trOlleymen is well supplied
I'M the contrast of working condi-
tiOns as existed among them i'm
1902 with those of 1912. as made
by Correspondent Brown.
I'm 1902, trolleyman worked
IL hours day; seven days a week,
for which he received $13.44-his
rate was 10 cents an hour. If he
worked more than % hours i'm one
day he was entitled to overtime that
day. If he was lucky enough to get
home before breakfast the day
after he left home for work, he
was considered one of Gods ia
vOrite sons. The word Vacation
never entered trolleyman's vocab-
ulary in those days.
Today, a New Haven trolleyman
works eight hours a day-six days
a week-and he is paid 81 cents an
hour with one-quarter hour paid for
cashing-in time. After eight hours,
he is paid time and one-half for all
overtime. Each year, our operators
receive new uniform from the COM
pany and two weeks vacation with
pay"
Amlcable Relations
A committee representing the Divi-
son meets annually with the manage
ment of the Connecticut Co. to dis
cuss wages, working conditions, i'm
provements and the ways and means
of better serving the public. Disputes
that arise and cannot be ironed out by
union and company representatives
over the conference table are sub
mitted to arbitration
The members of the Trolleymen's
union support through voluntary
weekly contributions fund to help
one another in time of misfortune due
to accident or sickness.
However, the local has Benev-
client and Protective branch, which
has paid out grand total of $751;
900 in sick benefits TO date. The
members also participate in group
insurance plan on which the COM
pany pays approximately twO-thirds
of the premium. This insurance
provides $1,000 death benefit, $25
weekly, and capitalization of SIS
a day Tor zO days.
Through the Divisions affilia-
ton with the Amalgamated Assoc
citation, the members are entitled
to from 500 to $500 i'm event of
permanent injury ON. the job or in
case of death. TO- date, the MEM
bership has received $l57 900 in
benefits. Our pension plan, paid
for by the company, provides a
maximum pension for retired
members of $40 a month.
Our Credit Union, inaugurated in
1888, plays no small part in the lives
of the members of 281. Seventy-flve
per cent of our membership partici-
pate in the Credit Union. At
present we have $4,000 in shares.
Division 281 has already pur-
chased $4,000 in War Bonds"
Present officers of Division 28l
are: William McNamee, president;
Frank p. Carr, vice-president; Dam
ieI ]. Calvin, recording secretary;
Samuel F. Curry, secretary-treas-
urer and business agent; Thomas
Gallagher, Michael Costello and
Bernard Caldwell, executive board;
John C.. O'Neil, sergeant-at-arms !;
Albert Weir, warden, and Brown,
correspondent.