Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen, District 356 (Black Eagle, Mont.)

The Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen was formed as the Conductors' Brotherhood, in 1868. The first convention was held that fall in spite of a threat by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad to fire any conductor who joined. The 1878 convention formally changed the name to the Order of Railway Conductors of America. The national headquarters were established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During its early years the order was primarily a fraternal and benevolent association. Beginning in 1885 the Order began negotiating with the railroads concerning wages and working conditions. It also began lobbying Congress to pass hours legislation.

In 1954 the Order changed its name to the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen, in recognition of the long-standing practice of accepting Brakemen into the order. In 1969, the Order of Railway Conductors and Brakemen merged with three other Brotherhoods to form the United Transportation Union.

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