The Daily Worker

SPEED UP OF CAR MEN IS CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS

Lay Off Many; Risk Is Motorman's

(By a Worker Correspondent)

CLEVELAND, Ohio (By Mail).

A vicious plan of speed-up and staff reduction is now being inaugurated in this city by the local traction interests, the Cleveland R.R. Co., who own the sole rights of transportation in the city and suburbs.

The new plan was put into effect on the 10th on Euclid Ave., the "Broadway" of this city.

Articulated or two car trains mounted on three trucks, with an aisle connecting the cars to allow passengers to pass from one car to the other, have been introduced. Under the old system two conductors were necessary to operate a two-car train, but the new cars will require only one. At present a conductor rides on the rear car instructing the passengers how to use the treadle doors with which the new cars are fitted. Afterwards, the company declares, when the car riders are acquainted with the new machinery only one conductor will be necessary.

This means that a considerable number of the men will be thrown out of employment to swell the large numbers that are already roaming the streets of this "city of homes."

Motormen's Risk.

Along with the new cars comes the announcement from the company that five minutes will be cut off the running time on the Euclid Ave. line.

This is going to be a dangerous procedure, especially for motormen as it is almost impossible at the present to make the schedule time owing to the volume of traffic and the large number of automatic traffic signals that the carmen have to contend with. Lately many serious accidents have occurred owing to the high speed at which motormen have been forced to operate the cars.

On an eight mile stretch of Euclid Avenue, three-fourths of which lies in the busiest section of the city. This running time is only forty-five minutes from about 7 p. m. to 5 a. m. What with a stop at every second block, and traffic signals that only alternate every thirty-five or sixty seconds, and an inspector hiding behind a telegraph pole with a watch in his hand, you can easily imagine the risks a motorman has to take to keep the car on time and keep his job. The schedules are O. K.'d by the city traction commissioner Mr. Bailou, who works hand in hand with the R. R. company in speeding up the men.

Insurance Gag.

A group insurance and retirement benefit plan proceeded the speeding up. The insurance plan was introduced following the declaration of the supreme court of Ohio declaring unconstitutional the closed shop contract then existing between the Car men's Union and the R. R. Co. after the local courts had declared legal an award of twelve cents per hour increase in wages granted by an arbitration board. This was in 1924. Since then the R. R. Company has done everything possible to lure the men away from the union. Free smokers, free concerts, free picnics, free dental treatment, and now free uniform caps have been given to the men, all paid for out of the nine and seven cent fares that are being wrung out of the car riders, the great majority of whom are workers.

During all this time neither the officials of our local union or our international have done anything to help the membership. In fact they conspired with the R. R. Co. and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. of New York to put over the insurance plan on the men. Under the insurance plan the workmen have no legal guarantee whatever, nothing but vague promises by the R.R. Company. "The R. R. Co. reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the plan any time," and for that they deduct $2.50 per month, and permit us no say in the matter except to withdraw, which by so doing you lose 79 per cent of the money that had been deducted, and perhaps get the "air" into the bargain. Time permitting, I hope to write some more letters about the conditions of the Cleveland R. R. workers and the class collaboration activities of our local and international union officials.