![]() "Most of them are railroad men, and they will not respond. "It is impossible for me to do anything further with my company," he wrote West Virginia Gov. Faulkner, threw up his hands and dismissed the militia. After the scabs abandoned the train, none could be found to run any trains out. The next morning, when a local militia (most of them railroad workers!) was sent in, one worker was shot to death while attempting to stop a scab cattle train pulling out. There, workers abandoned the trains, uncoupled them, ran them into the roadhouse and set up a guard to ward off scabs. The tone of the strike was set that day in Martinsburg, W.Va. It began on July 16 when B&O firemen in Camden, Md.-two miles outside Baltimore-walked away from their trains in disgust after the company announced the 10 percent pay cut. After two weeks of apparent calm, the strike broke out with a suddenness that surprised everyone. After all, one business paper noted, "labor is under control for the first time since the war."īut for anyone taking notice, it was clear that some railroad workers were prepared to act. They fully expected that workers would accept the cut. THE EMPLOYERS were confident-on July 1, most of the rail lines announced a 10 percent reduction in wages. While some unions did exist, they had declined considerably, so that by 1877 only nine national unions existed with only 50,000 members. Massive unemployment weakened the union movement. "Many of them declare they might as well starve without work as starve and work," wrote one Baltimore newspaper referring to the workers on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O).īut there was very little organization to counter the attack on wages and conditions. Increased workloads, petty tyranny, making workers pay their won train fares home, and the absence of any safety precautions embittered the railroad workers. ![]() Since 1873, rail workers' wages had dropped by 40 to 50 percent. The burnt remains of Pennsylvania Railroad's 28th Street roundhouse in Pittsburgh Wages and conditions were terrible throughout the economy-workers had been hit hard by the depression of the early 1870s-but nowhere were they as unbearable as on the railroads. If there were great fortunes being amassed, then there was a corresponding misery among those who created them. Scott, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Hayes, it was said, owed his election victory in 1876 to the intervention of Thomas A. They presided over the first mass industry, controlled the destiny of thousands and wielded immense political influence. "Robber barons" such as Jay Gould, Jim Fisk and William Vanderbilt had built enormous fortunes on railroad construction and speculation. Heading several dozen railroad corporation stood some of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the nations. by far the most extensive rail system in the world. By 1877, over 79,000 miles of track were in use, giving the U.S. ![]() In 1850, barely more than 2,000 miles of track had been laid. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the fantastic growth of rail transport and its supporting industries. ![]() ![]() Action must be taken now to avoid a national disaster.THE CIVIL War gave a massive boost to industry in the U.S. Some strikes have been averted, or at least shortened, by government intervention. While our highways keep merchandise flowing in good times, they will become quickly overcrowded in bad times. Food will get spoiled and wanted items will be unavailable. These are difficult times, but not a time for strikes. Workers are worried about job security, and managements are worried about their operational sustainability. American businesses and families are already facing increased prices due to persistent inflation, and a rail strike will create greater inflationary pressures.” Mathew Shay, president and CEO of the NRF, said: “Millions of hardworking Americans rely on the freight rail system for their jobs and the economic security of our country.” Shay continued: “A nationwide rail strike during the peak holiday season will be devastating for American businesses, consumers, and the U.S. The National Retail Federation has put out a call for Congress to act and stop the strike. ![]()
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