The Washington times., 1919-09-16
HAM NEUTRAL
IN CAR MEMS
WAGE FIGHTS
President of w. R. and E. Lets
Employees Battle MerriIy
Among Selves.
By BILL PRICE.


President Ham, OF the washington
Railway and Electric Company, today
declined to aecede to demands of
Local No. SIS, OF the AmaIgamated
Association OF Street Railway En-
ployes. that he cease eonferring with
Brotherhood employees. The former
organisation charges that the latter
Is merely ar adjunct OF the railway
company; that the award OF the War
Labor Board, made in March last, did
not recognize the Brotherhood as a
party 20 the agreement; and that the
AmalEamated objects to the Brother
hood being given any consideration.
Mr. Ham received Frank Diggs, c.
F. Cannon and d. P. Ashford, q COM
mlttee from Local No. SIS, OF the
Amalgamated, at which the matter
was presented. This local is made UP
Of ". r and E. employees, the Capital
Traction men having local Of their
own.
Several weeks ago, both the broth
erhood and the Amalgamated pre-
sented grievances to Mr.. Ham The
- AmalEamated presented a contract
which ID asked the company TO sign,
as recognition OF that organization.
The brotherhood presented demands
for higher pay and improved working
conditions. Mr.. Ham took the posi-
ton that the Amalgamated was
bound by agreement, at least to Oc-
tober 1. whereupon, the Amalgamated
withdrew its demands until that time.
Yield 10 Demands.
The brotherhood demands were
given consideration, and some changes
made in working conditions TO meet
their views.
The AmaIgamated position today
was that the company is not living
up To the award in holding confer
ences with the Brotherhood the
award having been an agreement
which bound the company ana the
Amalgamated only.
There in very cordial dislike for
each-otFer on the part Of these orr
zanfzatl ons the Amalgamated repre-
senting, according to their claims.
fully three-fourths OF the employees OF !!
the road.
M Ham. while pleasant and agree
Able TO his callers, declared that II
the company declined to confer with
the brotherhood or with any other
employees. organized or unorganized,
il would be violating the award and
the principles Of the War Labor
Board.
ne toId the committee that the War
Labor Board was named by President
Wilson. and that one Of its chairmen
was former President William 81.
Taft In March last the differences
between the company and the Anal
Esmated were settled by an award
which was TO last until peace was
proclaimed by President Wilson, there
being reserved to each side the right
TO take up for adjustment on octo-
Der any changes brought about BY
new conditions.
Reads From Rulings.
ha
of the War Labor Board, which he
maintained are binding until the
President proclaims peace, these fun
damentsls:
There shall be no strikes Of lock-
outs. rights OF workers TO organize
ia trade unions and bargain col
Lectively to be organized and not in
terfered with: recognition OF the
right of employers to organize in as
sociatfons or groups and deal col
lectiveIy without interference; no
discharge Of employees because they
belong to trade unions, nor Tor union
activities; the employer to meet and
confer with union or non-union en-
pIoyes who have grievances and these
conferences not to be regarded as
cause for grievance by union organi-
cations.
Mr.. Ham laid particular emphasis
on specific rulings Of the War Labor
Board, that properly accredited OF
hcers Of a company must meet and
treat with properly accredited commit
tees representing employees, whether
organized or unorganiezd.
Under these rulings, he maintained
he had no alternative but 70 receive
and confer with employees.
We must treat all employees alike,
Mr.. Ham said. 1--WE do not recognize |
any organization in the sense Of max |
Until the War Labor Board principles /
are extinct we have nothing else to
follow"
The men said they would submit /
Mr.. Hams statement to the next meet
ing Of their local, Thursday night.
Soldiers and Seniority.
The amalgmated have in their pro-
pesed contract. to be submitted Oc-
tOber l. a provision that the COM
Pany re-empIoy, with full seniority,
al returned soldiers. This was
taken up with Mr. Ham this morn
ing and he stated that he would
OF wait until October / to recog-
uize this section. He would be glad
5c put IL into effect at once. He
favored giving all returned soldiers
their former positions, and allow
them seniority as il they had never
Jeen absent
The committee stated that the
Amalgamated will present the W. r.
& Z. with the proposed new con-
tract October ], and will insist upon
the company accepting it. These in
clude wage demands that 20 from a
maximum Of IS cents an bour for
motormen and conductors to 20 cents /
{ and hour.
The members said they will proceed
with these demands without fafI. and
that IL will be up to President Ma
non, OF the Amalgamated. 10 deter
mine whether their demands should
he postponed until after the indus
trial conference in the White House.
beginning October 1.