Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-01

pairs may connect Or disconncct
any wiring. coupling or pipe connec-
tons necessary to repair machinery
or equipment This work was pre-
riously assigned To electricians and
sheet metal workers only.
Under the new rules. engineers,
hrcmen and crancsmcn are not pro-
hibited from making such repairs to
equipment on the lines OF the road
as they are qualified To perform. The
new rules thus allow train opera
tircs TO perform repair work even
though IL is ordinarily considered
shop mechanics work.
B0Eermakcrs' helpers under the
new rules are given the job Of re-
movisg and replacing crates Under
the national agreement all CRATE rig
ging work was assigned To journey
men boilernakcrs.
Reconsideration Made General.
The elias ;ihcation OF the wn,,s of
the sheet metal workers. ole .rical
workers and ear men h;iS been
changed to allow some of the work
previously performed by them ex
clusivciy TO be done by their help
ers and to mechanics i'll other crafts.
where the needs or the service re-
uuire ii. Under the national agree
mcnt ear men were exclusively as
signed To wreck ing crews. Under the
new rules. wrecking crews exclusive
OF engineers, Will he composcd OF
carmen, where sufficient men are
available. but when needed. men Of
any class may he taken as additional
members Of wrecking crews.
Another important change affect
ing car men is that which allows
common lab"rcrts To dismantle wooden
freight cars hereafter. Under the
national agreement. only qualified
carpenters were allowed to do this
work. About sS per cent OF the
rountry's freight ears are built OF
wood. The new rule will permit
employees getting S3.2j tn $500 a day
to do work previously required To he
don. by car men receiving s5.S4
day.
Creates New type VI Apprentice.
An entirely new rule promulgated
by the board. for the first time,
creates n new type Of apprentice to
be known as special apprentice"
Previously there have been only two
kinds of apprentices in the skilled
shop crafts. regular and helpers APP
prcnticrs. Regular apprentices are
youths entering the service between
the ages of lG and u years and serv-
In. four years apprenticeship. and
helper apprentices are those appren-
helpers. Special apprentices are to
be selected from young men between
the ages OF Is and &c. who have had
Il technical school education. and
they will be required to serve only
three years apprenticeship before be-
coming journeymcn mechanics.
Rules which required certain sta nd
ards III force and equipment TO he
maintained for doing certain kinds
of work have been modified and some
thus eliminating the eX-
pensc Of maintaining unnecessary
men on the rolls. other rules have
been changed to allow the use OF
forces assigned TO particular classes
OF work on other work. when there
ss no work OF their particular class
to no reformed.
MnHy Rules Highly TcchatcaI.
Many of the rules are highly tech
nical In character. Much time was
spent on the rules regarding cleo
trical railroads. which NJ present APP
ply only to few roads like the Penn
syivnnia and New York Central, but
which will become OF increasing i'm
portance rs the el"ctrification OF the
steam lines proceeds.
The six shop crafts employees in
Volvcd are the carmen. sheet metal
workers. machinists. blucksmiths,
boilcrmakcrs and electrical workers.
Ihcy were represented Mt the rules
hearings by tho following organiza-
tons Brothrhood Railway Carmen OF
America; international Alliance OF
ANAL Samatcd Sheet Metal Workers.
international Association of Ma
chinists, international brotherhood
OF BiacksmithS. Drop Forgers and
Helpers: International brotherhood
OF Boilcrmakers. Iron Shipbuilders
and Helpers of America. and the In
isrna tlOnal BrDt hPrhood NJ E'iootriooI