The Looming Shutdown That Could Paralyze a Nation
With railroad workers and managers deadlocked over the eight-hour day, President Wilson intervenes to prevent a catastrophic strike.
A general strike on virtually all the railroads of the nation, paralyzing commerce and throwing approximately 2,000,000 men out of employment, can be averted only through the good offices of President Wilson, as a result of the dispute over the men’s demands for an eight-hour day and time and a half for overtime. The workers have flatly rejected any form of arbitration. The men’s proposition provided that 100 miles or less, or eight hours or less, should constitute a day, with overtime beginning at the expiration of eight hours. The railroads contend that railroad employees are guaranteed payment for a full day, no matter how few hours they work, and receive pay for more than a full day if they work more than either the established miles or hours. President Wilson has conferred with both parties to the strike, stating that he is unable to judge yet whether a feasible basis for settlement has been found.
“The grist of knowledge is ground at the mill of experience.”
The 1916 labor conflict highlights the historical struggle for the eight-hour workday, a foundation of the modern American labor contract. Today's debates over gig-work flexibility and 'on-call' scheduling echo these same fundamental tensions between corporate profit and worker well-being.
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