Workers in the industry frequently suffered from low pay, long hours of labor, job insecurity, and dangerous working conditions.

[3] Moreover, even these low wages were insecure, with car repair shops typically placed under the supervision of a master mechanic and foremen working for him, who capriciously hired and fired at will and sometimes extorted gifts from workers to maintain the supervisor's good will.

[7] A "Joint Convention" was held in Topeka, Kansas on September 9, 1890, with the Brotherhood of Railway Car Repairers merging at that time with the Carmen's Mutual Aid Association, a small parallel organization which had been established in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Sylvester Keliher.

The delegates drafted the organization's first declaration of principles, emphasizing the fraternal benefit aspect and committing the organization to "promote Friendship, Unity, and True Brotherly love among its members," to "exalt the character and increase the efficiency of carmen" and to thereby "benefit our employers by raising the standard of our craft.

[10] This act provided an increase in wage of $0.05 an hour, and restored pay rates on Canadian railroads, among other favorable changes.