Evening star., 1919-09-28
u. S. RAIL SHOPMEN
| MAKE AGREEMENT
| WITH Government
Wages, Hours and Conditions.
Established for 60Oy 900
| Throughout Country.
UNAUTHORIZED STRIKE 81
DELAYED CONFERENCES
Arrangement Sought for Months
Most Comprehensive in
History of Labor. -

ASs0Ay Va x&hOVl.
Six hundred railroad shopmen, mem.
bers Of the American Federation Of
Labor. and the United States Railroxd
Administration have substantially CONS
pleted an agreement covering wages
and hours and conditions Of work which
the labor men have sought for seversi
months. -
1t is described as the most liberia, ana
comprehensive recognition Of organized
tabor's demands ever granted. Bert n.
Jewell. acting president of the railway
department Of the Federation of Labor.
and Martin F. Ryan, a member Of the
executive council of the department, are
quoted as saying that when signed Il
will be the greatest contract ever made
by labor organization.
Report Is Confirmed.
The railroad administration last
night confirmed the report that the
agreement had been substantially
completed and verified details Of in
formation regarding the matter which
had been obtained from other sources.
Administration officials pointed out,
however. that the agreement can be
valid only 50 long as the railroad
administration controls the lines, al
though labor leaders are satisfied that
it will be continued after the return
of the roads to private control. WhSA
the roads are returned the agreement
automatically win terminate. becau66
the railroad administration will nal
have the authority to pass on 20
private owners and executives con-
tract Of this nature. is the opinion of
administration officials
Among the more important features
of the agreement will be uniform ma
tional contract for -the workers cos5l.
monty known az shopmen of the rail-
r1adB. made nm Of the Internauoaa1
Association or 1fadhinists, Internations
nj Brotherhood OF Biacksmiths ~
Helpers, international Alliance -
Fsheet Meal wufksfs, ntefa1tioii3
Rrptherhood Of Electrical Worksr4
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of
America. Swftchmen's Union Of North
America. Brotherhood Of Railway
Clerks and Brotherhood of Boilerinaks
ers and Iron Shipbuilders.
The agreement will provide for :
uniform wage scale for the various
trades and crafts. The eight-hour dax
will be part Of the agreement: time and
half for overtime, unless for ap-
prentices. uniform allowance tor
meals and overtime for road services
Seniority regulations governing eAoh
craft are included.
Strike Interfered.
Negotiations to bring about this
agreement between the representa-
tives Of the railway department Of TIA
American Federation Of Labor and ths
United States Railroad Administratton
had been pending for months. Just at
the time when the final agreement
had been reached the whole negotia-
tions were ruptured by the unauthor-
ICED strike of the railroad shopmen in
August.
AS soon as the men returned 10
work. the matter was reopened by MI.
Jewell. with Director General Hines
Of the railroad administration.
President Ryan Of the Garments L.
ternational Union, discussing the pre-
posed agreement for the railroad
shopmen. is quoted as having said:
Our agreement, surpasses any ever
made. 1t covers every railroad under
government control and will be main.
tanned when they are returned -
their owners. This was done in tiS
face Of the attempts to drag us int
strikes. Such general strike wou1z
have paralyzed the business Of the
country. There was no need OF It. =
we were negotiating. at the time IT,
unauthorized strike took place. f9r
just what we have gained"
The executive council Of the rails
way department Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor is made up Of w. H
Johnston. J. W. Kline. Louis wegsad.
J. j. Hynes, J. p. Noonan. Martin /.
Ryan, S. E., Hoberling and J. J. For-
ester. presidents Of the several inter-.
national unions making up the raiIs
road shopmen's crafts and trades.
President Jewell is acting president
Of that department Of the America4
Federation Of Labor which conductea
the negotiations throughout Somo
little hitch AS. to the electrical worlT
ers and signal men has delayed th6
>.~n,,,,foy,s NJ fhe ne1ofiationz -,