St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-08-31


ments.
In spite of the enormous gains
that have come to employees
working under the jurisdiction Of
Local SIC, such jurisdiction covers
five local railroad companies anc
such agreements regulated work
ing conditions, hours of service
and grievances and last but not
least, rates of pay: only 10 pei
cent belong and are in good stand
ing with the local union.
Now there must be a reason ?
Why is it than only approximately
two-thirds of such employees be-
long to such a worthwhile organi-
zation? We do not subscribe "a
bromide that the fault is in the
short sightedness of these EN-
ployees.
We hold that the bulk OF the
fault lies with local 518 itself in
its nonresident education de-
partment. The employees outside
of the union do not know what the
union has contributed TO their
working and living conditions. The
improved conditions did not just
happen. Here then lies the prin-
cipal reason why the appalling
fact is as IL is. In order that the
new employees who must soon
become our comrades in organized
labor this short resume Is written.
The reason why many OF the Of
ficers and members of Local SIG
believe so firmly in organized la
Dor is because Of the many recent
gains secured by their collective
bargaining power. xs.wrss~-
Let's review these accomplish
ments: On April 4, 1888. a charter
was granted Local 5l6 by the
Hotel. Restaurant and Bartender
international Union AFL Dining
Car Employees wages then (193s)
were $500 a month: this was
paid for 240 hours month at the
rate of 30.2 cents per hour All
hours worked In excess of 240
were paid at the same rate of pay.
30.2 cents per hour. There was no
time and one half paid at any
time. A 800 hour work month was
common.
In 1888. organized Labor pushed
through the 74th Congress the
Fair Labor Standards Act, with
its minimum wages provision.
This resulted in a wage increase
of 8 cents per hour in the year of
1899 the effective date of Ret.
In 1871. wages were increased
by 10 cents per hour; this brought
Dining Car employees working
under the jurisdiction of Local
516 a hourly wage of 46 cents.
This was the wage when World
War ii began. Here IL remained
until 1943 after a prolonged fight
extending well over one year and
an IL cents per hour increase was
won.
This gave Dining Car employees
a minimum wage of 81 cents per
hour where II stayed for over
three long years. In 1914. Local
6l6 won a vacation with pay
agreement. This marked a new
milestone for II was the first paid
vacation agreement granted any
employees In road service on any
American railroad. Later in this
same year. 1914. an overtime
agreement was reached. This
agreement provided pay at the
rate of time and one-half for all
hours worked in excess of $40
hours within a calendar month.
AS stated above, dining car en-
ployees wages established in 1943
remained at 81 cents per hour
until June 10. 1916; on this date
a wage increase Of 1915 cents was
won.
In September of 1947, another
postwar wage increase was won.
This was for 1914 cents per hour.
This ls47 wage increase brought
employees working under the
jurisdiction of Local SIG a mimi
mum wage OF 81 cents per hour,
but the local union did not stop
here. In l94S. a wage increase of
z cents per hour was gained.
In 1919 the local won a reduced
working month from 240 hours to
q POS hour month with no reduc-
tons in pay. This reduction in
hours brought another wage in
crease of Is cents per hour.
In 1851, Local SIG, not resting
ON past victories. moved still an
other step forward ever mindful
that he who stopped and rested on
his laurels loses sight of his goal
plus and escolator clause that is
second to none In the nation. This
increase amount to 10 cents per
hour. Now at this date the mini
mum hourly wage for all en-
ployees who must join Local 516
during the month of September is
$1.33 per hour.
Since Local 516 has secured its
charter, wages for persons work.
ing under its Jurisdiction have in
creased 1888 per cent, amounting to |
s1.03 per hour-with many other
not mentioned here. These
rains have been won by fortitude
md great sacrifices by the few
or the many. but the president Of
1ocal 516. ". N. Galloway an
lounced this week that Local SIC