The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-18
| UNIONIZING OF CITY
RAILWAYS FORESEEN
War Labor Boards Hearing in
B. r. T. Case Will Set
Precedent.
DISCRIMINATION CHARGED
Men Demand Recognition Of
Right to Organize and
Act as Body.

The employees Of street railways and
subways OF New York city will probably
be unionized before the end Of the year
The attitude Of the men themselves. the
confident predictions Of their leaders
and the support Of the Federal Govern
n,ent through the War Labor Board
makes such a conclusion almost In
evitable.
Tho critical situation among motormen
Of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany. who are affiliated with the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Engineers. and
which caused Mayor Hylan to ask the
War Labor Board to come to this city
for a conference yesterday. Ia only
part Of the general labor situation as It
affects the transportation lines OF the
city as a whole. The men recognize
that in the agreement between capital
and labor adopted by the War Labor
Board and in the present scarcity OF
labor they have weapons with which
they can quickly force to a successful
issue their right to organize and deal as
a collective body with their employees.
This right is guaranteed to them by
the Government and by It they hope to
accomplish in a relatively short time
what they have failed to gain by many
disorderly strikes and disturbances that
have extended over ten years. The
present conflict between the B. r. T.
and the brotherhood affects only 400
men. but this evening big meeting Will
be held at 1877 Tompkins avenue. Brook
Ign. by motormen and conductors.
b. n. r. Challenges Jurisdiction.
The B. r. T. has questioned the turis-
diction of the War Labor Board over
~ 49, Nalr M,
the attitude that its power extends over
any road which carries men engaged in
the production OF munitions. This juris-
diction is based on the following para
graphs In the specification Of its powers:
ITO bring about a settlement. BY
med iation and Cancellation. Of every
controversy arising between employers
and workers in the field of production
necessary for the effective conduct Of
the war.
ITO do the same thing in similar
controversies in other fields of national
activity. delays and distractions in
which may. in the opinion of the Ma
! tional Board, affect detrimentally such
production"
That its assumption OF power Is fol-
lowed swiftly by effective action has
! been shown in the two recent instances
In Connecticut. the Smith & Wesson
plant and tho Bridgeport machinists'
strike.
This is why the men look forward to
the War Labor Boards decision IN the
b. r. T. case. which will probably be
rendered after a public hearing Thurs
day morning in the City Hall.
Say DETERMINATION Il Proved.
They believe sufficient evidence has
haan nraSepfai n that thu
T. has discharged men for Joining the
brotherhood. To letter which Mayor
Hylan sent TO the board yesterday he
attached several letters from discharged
employees of the road to uphold this
contention. Mayor Hylan was appealed
to by l.. G. Grifing. assistant grand
chief of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers. and the Mayor, himself a
member OF the Brotherhood. wrote thus
to the board.
"As i understand the situation this
matter has been referred to the Ma
tional War Labor Board by the United
States Department OF Labor and hear
ings were held in August Since then,
Mr.. Griff1ng informs me. the Brooklyn
Rapid Transit Company has still con-
tinued to discriminate against and dis
charge employees for taking out menu
bership in this Organization.
Attached are several strong state
ments by men who have been discharged
on the pretext OF violating the rules OF
| the company. but any fair minded man
| reading these statements can see that
their discharge was brought about be-
cause OF their connection with the
Brotherhood
Increased Fares q Factor.
1.-THE Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany is carrying many thousands OF peo-
pie employed In the navy yard, ship
Yards, munition plants and other indus
tries whi:l are vitality necessary to the
successful prosecution OF the war. The
unrest which the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company is causing among its en-
ployees would appear to be part Of n
plan to force the city to allow an In
creased rate of fare"
The strength OF the mems position. as
pointed out by the Mayor, is made plain
In the first article OF the principles laid
down to govern the Labor Board:
THE right of workers to organize in
trade unions and to bargain collectively
through chosen representatives Is recog-
niZed and affirmed. This right shall not
be denied, abridged or interfered with
by the employers in any manner what
soever."
After receiving the Mayors letter
Frank p. Walsh. joint chairman. with
William Howard Taft OF the board.
went to tho City Hall and had long
| talk with the Mayor. 1t was then de-
cided to hold a public hearing Thursday
and after leaving the Mayors Office Mr..
Walsh said:
THE Mayors letter calling our at
tention to the present gravity OF the
situation seems to make 1t imperative
hnt ,ha hnn ri ha I'M lad hnf
the Joint chalrmen so that speedy and
| appropriate action may be taken to safe
guard the Governments interest in the
! uninterrupted operation OF the New York
| transportation systems. The hearings
will be public. and the introduction OF
| testimony will be free from technical
rules or hindrances"
II the board finds that the B. r. T.
has unjustly Disseminated against
| union men It has the power to order
them reinstated with full payment OF
wages lost during their period OF idle-
ness This has been done In other In
stances In which the board has made
! awards II the corrfpa MES refuse IA
abide by the boards decision II also has
| the power under the national defence
act to take over the roads and operate
! them as a Government property.
II the question of wages comes up as
| II has not so far. II will probably result
| in an interesting controversy. for II has
been found that wages of men on car
lines in New York are much less than
in cities where the War Labor Board
has authorized an Increase of pay. The
board has the power to enforce a higher
wage scale. with the same alternative
OF Government operation in case the
companies do not agree.