The local grievance committee, the general board of adjustment, and the chief executive officer must all attempt to settle the grievance by peaceable negotiations with the railroad officials before a proposal to strike may be considered, and then, in most of the brotherhoods, it must be indorsed by the chief executive, the board of adjustment, and two-thirds of the members who will be involved.
With the exception of the Telegraphers and the International Association of Car Workers, the railroad organizations are not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, and, notwithstanding the essential similarity of their interests, the frequent attempts to create a general federation of railway employees have signally failed. The United Order of Railway Employees was formed in 1889, but was dissolved in 1891. In 1893 the American Railway Union was organized with the object of bringing all railway employees under a single jurisdiction, but it received its death blow in the Chicago strike of 1894. In 1895 another alliance was formed, in accordance with what is known as the Cedar Rapids plan, between the five railway brotherhoods. This loose alliance was superseded in April, 1898, by a more centralized Federation of American Railway Employees, which in turn was dissolved February 1, 1900, leaving the Cedar Rapids agreement still in force. This agreement provides for united action among the five brotherhoods in settling grievances and conducting strikes.
(1) The Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the oldest and most powerful of the railway unions, was organized August 17, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Footboard, and reorganized under the present name one year later. Between the biennial national conventions the supreme powers are centred largely in the grand chief engineer, who is elected by the convention for a term of four years, and receives a salary of $5000 a year. The brotherhood lays unusual emphasis upon charity and mutual insurance. The local subdivisions in almost every case pay sick and out-of-work benefits; while the international division maintains a charity fund for the payment of pensions to the needy widows and children of deceased members, the expenditures for which average about $42,000 a year. The insurance system of the brotherhood is conducted by an auxiliary company—The Locomotive Engineers' Mutual Life and Accident Insurance Association—which was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, March 3, 1894. From its first organization in 1867 to January, 1903, the insurance department paid out $12,000,000 at an average cost of about $16.55 a year per $1000 of insurance. The mortuary fimd at that time contained $109,309 and the contingent or strike fund more than $100,000. There were 596 subdivisions in the brotherhood with 42,000 members, of whom about 33,000 belonged to the insurance association. The official journal is the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers' Journal, published monthly at the headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.
(2) The Order of Railway Conductors of America was organized July 6, 1868, as the Conductors' Brotherhood, adopted the present title in 1878, and in 1890 abandoned the non-protective policy which it had followed for a number of years and under which members were pledged not to participate in any strike. Between the biennial conventions the principal powers are exercised by a salaried grand chief conductor and a board of three trustees. The mutual benefit department is separately conducted and is controlled largely by three insurance commissioners, from whose decisions an appeal lies to a board of directors. Policies of from $1000 to $3000 are issued at an average cost per year of about $16 per $1000 of insurance. The order is noted for its conservative methods and its elaborate machinery for conciliation and collective bargaining. It maintains, however, a protective fund of $100,000, and striking members are paid $50 a month for a period not exceeding three months. Reports covering the biennial period ending December 31, 1902, show 424 divisons, 27,899 members, 24,488 members of the insurance department, and the payment during this period of 604 insurance claims amounting to $1,206,000. The official journal is The Railway Conductor, published monthly at the headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
(3) The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen was organized December 1, 1873, and operated as a fraternal organization until 1877, when it adopted trade-union tactics, absorbed the existing lodges of the aggressive International Firemen's Union and Protective Association, became involved in the railroad strikes of 1877, lost its funds and a large part of its membership, and by 1878 seemed bankrupt and in a hopeless condition. In 1880, however, the strike policy was abandoned and the national officers were changed, with the result that since that year the brotherhood has grown from about 3000 members to 45,112 at the beginning of 1903. The government of the Brotherhood of Firemen does not differ materially from that of the engineers and conductors. Each member is assessed 50 cents quarterly for a protective fund, assessments ceasing when $250,000 have been accumulated. Members on strike are paid $25 a month for a period not to exceed three months. The brotherhood maintains a useful and successful employment bureau. The official organ is the Locomotive Firemen's Magazine, published monthly at Peoria, Illinois.
(4) The Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen was organized September 23, 1883, as the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen, and adopted its present name in 1890. It admits conductors, baggagemen, brakemen, flagmen, yard-masters, assistant yard-masters, yard conductors, foremen, and switchmen. In structure and government the brotherhood is about identical with that of the Locomotive Firemen. Active members are assessed $1 a year for the protective fund until it reaches $300,000. Members participating in an authorized strike receive $35 a month during its continuance. Reports covering the biennial period ending December 31, 1902, show 646 subordinate lodges, 54,963 members, 52,591 members of the beneficiary department, and the payment during the two years of 1556 insurance claims amounting to $1,670,790. The official organ is the Railroad Trainmen's Journal, published monthly at the headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.
(5) The Order of Railroad Telegraphers was organized June 9, 1886, and admits telegraphers, linemen, levermen, in connection with the telegraph department and electro-pneumatic or mechanical interlockers. The telegraphers elect no legislative boards; the representation of the local
