Arizona republican., 1920-11-30
RAILROAD UNION
CHIEFS THREATEN
TO TAKE DISPUTE
INTO OWN HANDS
Brotherhood Leaders Issue
Warning They Will No
Longer Try To Hold Men
In Check; Demand Action
TRepubIlcan a. P. Leased wIrsI


CHICAGO, Nov. Representative
or the is recog Nized railway labor
unions today asked the railway labor
board to find some plan through which
differences between the roads and their
employees, other than wage disputes
could be settled. The union heads de-
clared that unless some satisfactory
plan was forthcoming Immediately
the men would take the settlement of
such disputes in their own hands.
During federal control of the rail-
rods, disputes which did not involve
wage agreements were settled by
boards of adjustment known as No. 1.
and 2. These boards went out of
existence when the roads were returned
to private ownership, and the employees
want them re-established.
The roads contended when the mat
ter came up in recent wage hearings
before the board that the board had
power only to deal with wage questions
and that consequently IL could not rule
on other differences.
The board took the plea of the en-
ployes under advisement and an
nouncement that if it decided to go
into the matter an early hearing would
be held
Appearing before the board with Of
ficialS Of 15 other recognized railway
unions, Mr.. Stone announced that, after
being classed "for II years as an ultra
conseI ative, / have arrived at the
point where I am through making ex-
cuses to the men,"
There must be some plan found
somewhere, some place, whereby we
can get results for these men," Mr..
Stone continued. The locomotive en-
gineers have carried the load OF re-
sponsibility for years. We have tried
to erhbody your boards decision Of
last July in agreements with 35S rail-
roads, but only four OF these agree
ments have been signed. The roads
refuse to sign until the board passes
on the question OF rules"
With Mr. Stone appeared officials of
the other employees organizations, ask
ing that the board hold a hearing to
decide on the creation of national
boards of adjustment which would hear
and pass on controversies other than
wage disputes The matter had been
pending for some time, due to the fact
that adjustment boards created under
United States government control have
no jurisdiction over disputes arising
since the roads passed to private con-
troll.
The board agreed to an immediate
executive hearing on the request and
X 1t decided to comply, an early hear
ing will be set.
A motion passed unanimously by
the executive committee of the 16 en-
ployes' organizations, was read by z
II. Fitzgerald OF the Brotherhood O.
Railway and Steamship Clerks, Ex
press and Station Employees. The mo
tion resolved to submit an ex-patr'
statement of disputes with railroad
on the matter of creation of nationa
boards of adjustment and asked 70
an immediate hearing. Mr. Fitzgerald
told the board that the situation wa
urgent
w. r. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen, eXplaine
that the request concerned nationa
boards which could hear and pass o
controversies.
Action to change the present situa
ton is necessary declared Mr.. LIE,
1T do not refer to your jurisdiction c
authority. I believe the majority {
controversies is not concerned wit
your decision of last July and the oper
ating officers feel that they are M
bound by that decision.
"The chief executives OF the me
have told them they must adhere I
the railway act, that they must su0m
any controversy to the board befoi
taking a strike vote or interfering wit
traffic But il the operating Officer
are not bound, there is nothing left
do but go back TO the old method TIL;
we do not want to do if We ca
help IT,"
Speaking for the Brotherhood
Railway Conductors, L. T.. Shepher
president, told the board that the r
quest concerned a board auxiliary
the labor board, to which can be r
ferred questions not involving wage
with a view to tightening and expedi
ing the present boards labor