Talk:Order of Railroad Telegraphers

Initial suggestions/thoughts

I have a general graduate-level knowledge of US history, but I knew nothing about the ORT before I read this article.

• The article's chronological details are informative, but the article as a whole doesn't give me a good sense of how important railroad telegraphers and/or the ORT were (to the operation of railroads, to the US labor movement, to its members); its major achievements, if any; and what the larger context was for the ORT's organizing efforts. I think that some work on the lead, and/or some restructuring in the article body, might clarify it.
  • Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Railroad telegraphers were of course of great importance during the era of the railroads; they were literally the air traffic controllers of the 19th century. The ORT gave them added significance with their ability to call strikes and shut down major segments of the economy that relied on rail transport. Sadly, there has been no new published research on the ORT since Archibald McIsaac's 1933 study; much of the material in this entry is based on primary research. Another interesting facet is the fact that the ORT admitted women as members from the beginning; many became district representatives and labor organizers. I will try to work on the issues you point out as time permits.Tjepsen (talk) 18:56, 14 March 2011 (UTC)
• When I saw that this article didn't have any geographic-scope information in the lead, I added a link to the US labor-history article. On a second look, I realize that the ORT eventually became international, so maybe that's not appropriate. ---Shane Landrum (cliotropic | talk | contribs) 22:12, 12 March 2011 (UTC)
  • Of interest is the fact that the ORT's area of activity was North America, rather than just the U.S. They did not exhibit the xenophobia that some other labor unions developed around 1900, and happily included French Canadian and Hispanic operators in their ranks.Tjepsen (talk) 18:56, 14 March 2011 (UTC)