Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees (1899-)

The Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express, and Station Employees was organized in 1899 in Sedalia, Missouri as the Order of Railway Clerks of America. It was initially affiliated with the American Federation of Labor but the tie was severed in 1901 and did not resume for many years. Union name variants were the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (1904); Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees (1919); and the Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees (1967). In 1906 the Brotherhood engaged in its first strike against the Southern Pacific. In 1908 the Brotherhood expanded to include freight handlers, and over the next ten years other classes of workers joined as well. Airline clerks and employees were added in 1945, although the word "airline" did not appear in the official union name until 1967.

It was the largest single railroad organization for employees who devoted a majority of their time to clerical work of any description including chief clerks, foremen, train announcers, gatemen, checkers; parcel, baggage, and storeroom employees; dock and pier workers; train and engine crew callers; timekeepers; paymasters; freight inspectors; rate and tariff compilers; weigh masters; ticket clerks and sellers; operators of all office and station equipment devices; telephone and switchboard operators; and all employees occupying or performing duties similar to those mentioned. Males and females of good moral character with at least three months of experience in clerical work were eligible for membership. During the period of government control of the railroads, the union secured increases in wages and better working conditions.

The Grand Lodge was the legislative and judicial head of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks. It had jurisdiction in the United States, Central America, and Canada. No lodge, system, division, board of adjustment, or federation could be formed or continue to exist without the Grand Lodge's sanction. It had the sole right and power of granting and suspending charters, of receiving appeals, and of addressing grievances. The Grand Lodge executive officers included one grand president, seven vice grand presidents, and a grand secretary-treasurer. These officials also comprised the Grand Council. The grand president exercises general supervision over all lodges, system divisions, boards of adjustment, and federations of the Brotherhood, and over the Benefit Association. The grand vice presidents assisted the president in the discharge of his duties, performed others assigned to them, and provided a full written report at each regular convention. The grand secretary-treasurer was responsible for keeping a record of the proceedings of all conventions and furnishing a printed report of it to all lodges and system divisions in good standing, and to their members upon request. Other duties included making a report of all monetary and other transactions of his office to each convention, keeping records of all members, issues, notices of dues and assessments, and preparing and making available a semiannual report of the condition of the Brotherhood to all lodges and system divisions in good standing. Every lodge and subordinate organization had to report to the grand secretary-treasurer quarterly.

Union guidelines and regulations were described in the constitution, bylaws, statutes, and protective laws of the Grand Lodge. Subordinate lodges, divisions, and systems within the organization had similar documents stating their purpose and operations. To ensure uniformity in the union's administration, the Grand Lodge furnished charters, rituals, membership cards, and other forms throughout the United States> and abroad. It also made the constitution d pertinent documents available in French, Spanish, and other languages in addition to English. By 1919, each lodge was to have one hundred members or less and systems divisions were supposed to hold meetings at least once a month. In contrast, the Grand Lodge convened once annually in a regular session on the first Monday in May. Fees and dues of the Lodges or system divisions were not to be less than three dollars for initiation. The amount of dues was determined by each lodge and subdivision and was not to be under six dollars per year.

In addition to the lodges, systems, and divisions, the union provided its members with other benefits. For example, all union members contributed to the Protective Fund. It helped to defray the expenses of conducting authorized strikes and of rendering financial assistance to those dismissed from service. There were also a General Fund and a Convention Fund. Another benefit was The Railway Clerk, the official publication of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks. It was intended to be published at least monthly to promote the general welfare of the union and the moral and intellectual character of its members. Notices, instructions, and information of interest to the membership were included. The annual subscription rate was fifty cents.