The history of the advance and growth of American railroads is an episode in the saga of a people's restless urge to explore and to move on. Heeding that urge, these people expanded into the far corners of the North American Continent, moving as slow or as fast as their means of transportation allowed. This movement began in earnest only after the railroad's steel web was spun from coast-to-coast. Once the rail system was established, the great construction gangs began to settle down and maintain that which they had built. But, while the robber barons of the early railroads amassed great fortunes, their employees worked from dawn to dusk for pennies a day without insurance, vacations or means of support after years of hard work. It was these conditions that inspired early rail workers to organize collectively and form unions to protect their common interests.

One such union was the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes. The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) is an international union representing the workers who build and maintain the tracks, bridges, buildings and other structures on the railroads of the United States and Canada. Founded in 1887, at Demopolis, Alabama, as a fraternal organization by Track Foreman John T. Wilson, the BMWE membership forms a cross section of American culture. Their goals, interests and political backgrounds are as diversified as their heritage. Once a union with over 350,000 members, automation, the rise of the trucking and airline industry, coupled with the policies of a conservative government, has depleted the ranks of the BMWE to under 60,000 members. Since the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1978, railroad management, using competition as an excuse and the anti-union climate as an ally, has been selling or abandoning the nation's rail system. Realizing that our country is losing a vital link in its transportation network, the BMWE struggles to reverse this trend. Using our rich history as a guide - drawing on the strength of the union - we confront management in the halls of Congress and the State Legislatures, through use of our newspaper the BMWE Journal, the nation's court system and at the bargaining tables.

The battle that John T. Wilson courageously fought in the face of so much opposition goes on today. Rail labor leaders continue the fight for job security, better working conditions, fair wages and benefits, improved safety conditions and elimination of massive cutbacks. The benevolent society that started with a few trackmen on a hot July day in Alabama has shown that it can meet the challenges and problems of an ever-changing industry and will continue to protects its members' rights as it moves into its second century.

Accomplishments of the Brotherhood are reflected in benefits obtained:

• Right of Representation
• Rules Agreements
• Overtime Pay
• Unemployment Benefits
• Paid Vacations
• Union Shop
• Health Insurance
• Accidental Death, Dismemberment and Loss of Sight Benefits
• Job Security
• Off-Track Vehicle Accident Insurance Coverage
• Checkoff of Dues
• Dental Insurance
• Bereavement Leave
• Protection against Discrimination
• Eight-hour day
• Retirement Benefits
• Sickness benefits
• Forty-hour Week
• Holiday Pay
• Life Insurance
• Improved Wage Rates
• Travel Time and Away-From-Home Expenses
• Jury Duty Pay
• Supplemental Sickness Benefits
• Early Retiree Major Medical Benefits
• Personal Leave

Negotiated improvements in BMWE members' hourly rates of pay available upon request through the BMWE Department of Strategic Coordination and Research at (202) 638-2135.

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