KinSource - Tale of the Week - Wages Are Raised

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Journal, October 1, 1902, p. 6

WAGES ARE RAISED.

The Twin City Switchmen Receive an Increase of 15 Cents a Day.

A Question Whether This Action Will Forestall the Men's Demand for Still More.

The various [railway] companies having terminals in the twin cities, and the Minnesota Transfer Company, have decided to increase the wages of their switchman and beginning to-day the schedule is increased 1½ cents an hour, or 15 cents a day. This action was taken by the managers without any demand on the part of the switchmen.

It is understood that the switchmen of the twin cities and of Duluth and West Superior had been planning to ask for a material increase in wages. Since the strikes of '93 and '94, when the switchmen were beaten and their organization almost completely destroyed, there has been no regular schedule of wages. The organization has now been strengthened and recently a committee was appointed to draft a new schedule of wages. This committee had formed its schedule, which was about to be submitted to the main body. This schedule calls for an increase of 5 cents per hour over the old rate, or 3½ cents increase over the rate since to-day's increase has been given.

The schedule that has been in vogue up to the present time was 25, 27 and 29 cents an hour. This is lower than is paid in other cities and the union considered that it should be increased to 30, 32 and 34 cents an hour, and a decision to demand such an advance was reached at a recent meeting. It is thought that in some way the managers of the various railway companies learned that the demand was going to be made and that to-day's increase of 1½ cents an hour was given with the hopes that it would save an additional increase of 3½ cents.

While the switchmen have decided to accept the voluntary increase offered by their employers, yet they have not in any way pledged themselves to be satisfied with such an increase and it is likely that they will ask that they be paid the same schedule that is used in other parts of the country.