The Washington times., 1919-03-26
BANS SINGLE
CONTRACTS
WITHCARMEN
War Labor Board Rules Com
pany Cannot Deal With Men
Individually.
By BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
The War Labor Board today an
nounceed its findings and award in
the grievances of employees Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company belonging to the Amalga-
mated Association, against that road,
the most important point covered for
bidding the company from hereafter
making individual contracts with any
or its men or rendering such con-
tracts to the men.
Before and during the great strike
Of April, 1917, the company resorted
to the practice of making individual
contracts with its mOtOrmen and con-
ductors as one method of refusing to
recognize the union as an organiza-
ton In the hearing before the eX-
sminers of the War Labor Board, to
which all points in dispute were sub
mitted counsel for the company
stated that the practice of requiring
employees to sign contracts had been
abandoned, but that employees were
rendered contracts to sign il so dis
posed.
The board holds that both prac-
tices are contrary to the principles of
the board
The matter of recognition of the
union was not submitted for de-
cision. the board having determined
in a number OF other awards that an
employer does not have to recognize
q union, but must not discriminate
against men who belong to an or
ganization.
Demands Denied.
The contentious of the men were
recognized in some instances while in
others the company's claims were up
held The following five demands Of
the AmalEamated men were denied
by the board, leaving the present prac-
tices Of the company in effect:
Additional pay for operating
mandrake cars.
Time and one-hah for interven-
ing time.
Twenty minutes for meal relief.
Ten minutes for turning in car
and receipts.
Free passes.
The company now permits men in
uniform to ride free, but resisted
giving passes to employees TO be used
when on duty.
The men won a point in their con-
tentions regarding the rest periods
no be allowed men on regular runs.
FThe board holds that where the rest
periods between the time OF termin-
-tfng a days work for men who have
regular runs and the time for report
ing for another days work is less
than ten hours, additional pay shall
be allowed below ten hours as fol-
3OWs:
For first hour below ten hours,
fifteen minutes pay.
For second hour below, thirty
minutes.
For third hour, fOrty-five min
utes.
For fourth hour, one hour, and
the same allowance for successive
periods.
The company stated that nearly all
Of its men are given rest periods Of
st least eight hours between runs
Present Wages Continued.
The existing wages of 43 cents per
hour for the first three months OF
service; 40 cents for the first nine
months, and 4s cents for longer pc
RODS is continued.
There were originally twenty-five
ooints in dispute but with the eXcep-
.iop OF seven the others were settled
bv the company and the men during
1he hearings. They aret however.
made part Of the award.
One OF these was that properly ac-
credited officers Of the company shall
meet and treat with properly acCredit-
ID committees representing the en-
7loyes on all questions that may
arise Another was that no discTimi-
nation shall be shown because OF
membership in a labor organization.
Seniority Rights.
No man IL to lose seniority rights
because Of his absence from work
EhiIe serving as a member OF any
committee TO treat with the company.
These leaves will not be granted to
more than three men al a time in the
event OF unusual traffic demands
An employe discharged or sUs-
,euded without sufficient caUse-a
natter TO be settled by agreement
;,etween company and men-shall be
-einstated and paid for the time lost.
The other points agreed upon re
ate to better working conditions.
.specfaIly reduction OF swing runs.
,Ien with the longest service are to
ave FIRST choice OF runs; no regular
-un shall pay less than eight hours.
Extra men must be paid half-time
from the time they report until put
n work or relieved and the minimum
pGy shall be at least one hour.
Conductors and motOrmen shall be
said full time lost by them in at
-OnOlnR COuELb VI lHNutSASs III boAiiB
- the general Offices to make state I
,neuts. and in hunting up additional (
evidence in connection with accidents !
,1,F which they were not responsible. /
The award is effective from today /
md is TO continue until the end Of ]
me war. as announced by executive 1
,.rocIamation." Either party may re !
Len the case before the board at 4
rerIods OF six months for such ad- I
Iustments as changed conditions may 1
make necessary.
The board did not include in the de- /
,.sion the expected amendment Of the |
present rules Of procedure so that the /
nUblic will in the future be admitted |
: a full party in all disputes arts-
,rR between employers and en-
,.Joyes. This amendment has been
-ccommended and Is Understood to
nave strong backing in the board. II
is REGARDED, however, as a separate
proposition. Involving the rules OF
The board.