The Chicago and Alton division of the Order of Railway Telegraphers were readying their presentation for the railroad management on this date one hundred years ago. One hundred percent of telegraphers at the C & A were represented by their union, and the C & A division maintained that they were the lowest paid telegraphers in the Illinois railroad business with the exception of just one other line. At this time, each train line negotiated separately and the union was not negotiating on a national level. The union represented the operators, tower men, relay men, levermen, agents and wire chiefs, in fact all the men working with telegraphy for the railroad. The telegraphers were part of a large communication system that regulated the operation of the trains and the safety of the trains.
The employees were asking for a 15% increase and changes in working conditions, including over time rates for Sunday work and pay for deadheading on company business. The proposal was to be presented to the General Manager AP Titus.
Negotiations finally took place in January, 1916 and resulted in a wage increase of 5%. No comment was made as to the over time requests in the Pantagraph.
Later in 1916 the federal government passed the Adamson Act, which was a law that controlled the wages and working conditions of railway men. Although the act did create a better situation for the railroad workers at that time, union members were not fully satisfied, as the Adamson Act would eliminate their ability to negotiate for working conditions. It was also unclear as to whether the telegraphers were covered by the conditions of the Adamson Act.