Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1917 — RAIL WORKERS WANT RAISE [ARTICLE]

RAIL WORKERS WANT RAISE

a Leaders to Submit 20 Per Cent Increase Plan to Unions. Ottawa, Ont., Oct. 19.—Representatives of 200,000 organized railroad workers in the northeastern part of the United States and eastern Canada decided here to recommend to their unions that they demand from their employers wage increases of not less than 20 per cent. The workers involved are trainmen, conductors, baggagemen, brakemen and yardmen on lines east of Chicago and north of the Potomac river. The vote in favor of the demand for increased pay was unanimous on the part of 104 chairmen of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Order of Railway Conductors, who have been in session here for Lhree days. The question will be submitted to a referendum of the members of the brotherhoods, and If their vote is affirmative negotiations with the railroad companies will be begun. If the increases are granted they will mean the addition of millions of dollars to the annual pay rolls of about 50 companies which are involved. W. G. Lee, president of the trainmen’s organization, in announcing the decision of the convention, said it had been determined that railroad workers holding positions of responsibility were entitled to better pay.