The Connecticut labor press., 1920-09-25
R. R. EMPLOYEES
 TO FIGHT PIECE
 WORK VIGOROUSLY
Pennsylvania Roads Attempt to Reinstate It Frustrated Tenn
 porarily at Least.
ARBITRARY POLICY
Now Before Transportation Wage Board for Review and
 Trouble Looked for.
By CHARLES M. KELLEY.

Strike votes taken by the six shop crafts representing the Railway Elm ployes Department of the American Federation of Labor have temporarily d1ssuaded officials of the 'Pennsy1vania Railroad from putting into effect a pre- vipusly issued order abrogating the na- tlonal agreement and re-establishing the 1n1qultous plecework system. The mat ter IS to be presented to the Transporta- ton Wage Board for review.
 In its recent wage award the Trans portatlon Board continued unimpaired all agreements made during the period of federal control of railroads between the government and the employees or ganizations. It was specifically stated that all conditions of labor should be respected until the board directed oth- erwise, after hearings had been had on questions at issue.
 But the Pennsylvania Railroad, which found federal control irksome and was with difficulty forced to respect govern ment authority even when the nation faced great crisis, is not disposed to yield any of its perrogatives to any body government-constitut or other wise. When President Samuel Req was precipitate1y fired from the presidency of the company and the arbitrary meth ods of lesser officials were curbed by the strong arm of the government, they de- veloped bitterness against administra- tive agencies and their own officials that time has not appeased. All are looking for the, fight to the finish" which is to determine whether the employees of that corporation are to enjoy the breath of freedom accorded them by the govern ment or are to be returned to a state of near-serfdom which Is most appeal ing to the Pennsy1vania's autocratic management.
 General Manager Elisha Lee, in re- cent statement, declared that piece
 work IS the correct principle of em- ployment and should be adopted Wher-
 ever practicable. Vice President w. w. Atterbury sustains this position and re- gently warned members of the Cham | bers of Commerce that continuation eof the federal agreements would perpetuate l the closed shop and would lead to ''the
 naturalization of a great industry" | The attitude of the. corporation is | thus clearly defined by two of its fore most operating officials. It is not be- I 1ieved that they will respect any decision adverse ito their wishes that may be
 awarded by the transportation board They are looking for fight, and 1t is ] assumed that they have the moral if not the active support of other railroad cor
 porations and big business generally. | The workers, while preferring the ways of peace, are not minded tostame1y
 submit to the cancellation of conditions l that have improved their material and l spiritual status, and so indicated in the l strikefvotes referred to. Officers of the [ ,1. fA |.
 to employ the most. extreme methods to 1 prevent the reinstatement of the inde- 1 fensib1e piecework system. An import ant officer of the International Associa- 1 ton of Machinists announces that the
 men will never submit to this reaction
 ary proposal and that there will be a 1 universal strike if the company does
 not definitely abandon it's announced in l tention.