The document is an editorial from a 1882 issue of Firemen's Magazine discussing the use of intoxicating liquor among railroad employees. It acknowledges that railroad men were commonly addicted to drinking at the time, but notes this has decreased in recent years, especially among enginemen. It credits this decrease to the influence of railroad labor union Brotherhoods, whose rules mandate expelling any members involved in liquor sales and suspending or expelling those found drunk on the job.
The document is an editorial from a 1882 issue of Firemen's Magazine discussing the use of intoxicating liquor among railroad employees. It acknowledges that railroad men were commonly addicted to drinking at the time, but notes this has decreased in recent years, especially among enginemen. It credits this decrease to the influence of railroad labor union Brotherhoods, whose rules mandate expelling any members involved in liquor sales and suspending or expelling those found drunk on the job.
The document is an editorial from a 1882 issue of Firemen's Magazine discussing the use of intoxicating liquor among railroad employees. It acknowledges that railroad men were commonly addicted to drinking at the time, but notes this has decreased in recent years, especially among enginemen. It credits this decrease to the influence of railroad labor union Brotherhoods, whose rules mandate expelling any members involved in liquor sales and suspending or expelling those found drunk on the job.
by Eugene V. Debs Published in Firemen’s Magazine [Terre Haute, IN], vol. 6, no. 4 (May 1882), pg. 212. Printed in the “Editorial” section, unquestionably work of Editor Debs.
It is charged that railroad men are addicted to the too com-
mon use of intoxicating liquor. We are forced to acknowledge that in a great measure this is true. But not to the same extent that a similar charge would have been made ten years ago, for railroad employees do not indulge as much in the habit as they did then, especially enginemen. And we wish it understood that the cause is attributable to the Brotherhood, in proof of which we submit the following from the laws governing it:
Section 1. Any member dealing in, or in any way connected
with the sale of intoxicating liquors, shall be expelled. Section 2. Any member found guilty of drunkenness shall be suspended for the first offense. A repetition shall be punished with expulsion, and under no circumstances shall a member so expelled be reinstated before the lapse of one year.
Edited by Tim Davenport
1000 Flowers Publishing, Corvallis, OR · July 2015 · Non-commercial reproduction permitted.
National Labor Relations Board v. Local 294, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, and Howard Bennett, Its Agent, 273 F.2d 696, 2d Cir. (1960)
Local 553, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America v. National Labor Relations Board, Meenan Oil Co., Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board, 266 F.2d 552, 2d Cir. (1959)