The Washington times., 1920-04-12
UNIONS TO MAKE
DEMANDS APRIt29
Roads to Get New Scale From
Individual Bodies If Pro- :,
gram Succeeds. ..

[ KANSAS CITY, April 12.--1f the
program TO ,be submitted to delegates
|1rcfn 1000. 900 railroad workers gath
cring herSs,todRy for the conv ventioH
Of the railway employees department,
of the American Federation of labor
is, carried, every standard railroad
union I'M the country with wage de-
mands will present them TO the indi-
vidual railroad companies April IS.
Standardized wnge.
"a national standardized wage with
differentials" viii be the united de-
mand. f
"The "Blg Four railroad brother>
hoods, the Mates and Pilots Asso-
citation. and all the railroad unions in
the American Federation of Labor
will join In this- move, the purpose OF
which Is to secure the unions against
violation oflthe CummIns-Esch law II
action is decided on following a de-
NAL OF demands both by the individ-
ual companies. and the President s
Labor Board of Appeal.
BY calling off the bipartisan wage
board conferences the railroad COM
panies. the union officials maintain
refused to deal with the unions on a
national basis and must now deal
with the demands of the men indi-
vidually. Those unions with national
agreements covering hours and work
ing conditions will present them for
the signatures of the raialroad off.
cials on the same day that they sub
NIT the wage demands in order tc
secure perpetuation OF them after
September 1.
Whatever action is taken here by
the convention will go along way to-
l 4 h. n,
swiftly spreading railroad strike.
1t is expected il will be decided
during the conference here whether
the strike will spread into other dc
partments and crafts. This will dc.
pend entirely upon the influence the
radical element is able to exert dur.
ing the series OF meetings.
Already the high officials Of the
Switchmen's Union of North America
the Brotherhood of Railroad Clerks
and the six shop craft unions have
come out strongly against the "out-
laws" and are urging the 100000
members of their organization to is
more the Establishments of the
rebels" whether they will be able
to hold the men in line was the mair
topic under consideration as the 500
delegates gathered here today.
Must Vote on strike.
1t is the general belief that tho
convention will eventually be forccC
to express its feeling ono way or The
other-ror the strike, or against. i
It comes out against the strikers 4
| is probable means OF taking disci
plinary measures against them vii
: be adopted.
L..
against. the Federal authorities, who's
delay in appointing wage adjust
ment board is alleged to be responsi
bic for the present difficulty. Thu
sentiment was expressed this morning
by 40. Wharton, international presi
dent.
"The American Federation Of Labo
stands by its contracts" Wharton
said. "Its affiliated organization
will take no part In unauthorize,
strikes The eight internationa
unions composing the railway en-
ployes department arc working un
der contracts and we expect to .fulf1l
these obligations as we expect tn,
rairoad companies to fulfll theirs.
1--WE are cooperating with the va
rious brotherhoods IN their diffcultie,
and we will"not give aid or. encouri
aEement 10 illegal suspensions b,
irresponsiblos. We are opposed to
good many provisions of the trans
portation act. hut We intend to com
ply with Il and will submit our re
quest on wage adjustments to RI,
Federal Labor Board II organizct
provided for by that act at tn,
esr,i.st pos-iblo date after the..bcar,
Is organized