In 1877, the year of the great railway strike, it was
joined by the International Firemen's Union, an organization
without any fraternal or insurance features. In spite of this
amalgamation, however, the growth of the Brotherhood was very
slow. Indeed, so unsatisfactory was the condition of affairs that
in 1879 the order took an unusual step. "So bitter was the
continued opposition of railroad officials at this time," relates
the chronicler of the Brotherhood (in some sections of the
country it resulted in the disbandment of the lodges and the
depletion of membership) "that it was decided, in order to remove
the cause of such opposition, to eliminate the protective feature
of the organization. With a view to this end a resolution was
adopted ignoring strikes." This is one of the few recorded
retreats of militant trade unionism. The treasury of the
Brotherhood was so depleted that it was obliged to call upon
local lodges for donations. By 1885, however, the order had
sufficiently recovered to assume again the functions of a labor
union in addition to its fraternal and beneficiary obligations.
The days of its greatest hardships were over, although the
historic strike on the Burlington lines that lasted virtually
throughout the year 1888 and the Pullman strike in 1894 wrought a
severe strain upon its staying powers. In 1906 the enginemen were
incorporated into the order, and thenceforth the membership grew
rapidly. In 1913 a joint agreement was effected with the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers whereby the two organizations
could work together "on a labor union basis.
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