Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-16
SERVICE Co. CONTROLS
ERIE RAILROAD SHOPS
Marion Manufacturers Form
Corporation 10 Contract
for Repair Work.
no nErNsr,rm OLD EMPLOYEES
Workers oTcTcd Former Positions at
Same Pay. and Are Assured of Fair
Trcatmcnt--AdNcrt for More
MachiniSts.
me- Asencinted pross- /

MARION. ONO. Aug. l5.-Thc Rail
way Service Company, 4 corporation
organized by local manufacturers.
bankers and business men. today took
over operation OF the Erie Railroad
SHOPS cnd roundhouse here The
company leased the buildings aud
equipment and has contracted to d.
all repair aud other work heretofore
done ny employees OF the railroad.
Employment was offered to all en-
ploYcs Of tho Eric Company in the
servic, Mt : o'clock this morning each
man to take his former position ana
receive the same pay as that received
from thc railroad company. Accord
ing TO announcements by W. y Bald
win, manager Of the Ohio region OF
the railroad. the employees 81 the new
operating concern will "bc assured OF
fair treatment in accordance with the
practice of the extensive manufac-
2 turing concerns OF Marion"
Most OF the larger manufacturing
companies In Marion are represented
in tho Marion Employers Association.
whose members operate on an open
shop" basis
Since the Railway Service Company
Is not common carrier" it was
pointed out here that il undoubtedly
would not be subject to supervision
~ the Railroad Labor Board AMI
would not como uudcr the provisions
OF the ESch- Cumm!us railroad act.
No statement WAS issued tonight
5s TO the number OF Eric employees
who had accepted employment with
tho operating company. Work was
being done n the shops. however.
with Il. V. Blocker, master mechanic
under he Erie system. acting aS shoD
manager.
The situation is somewhat cloude1
ny the curtailmont of the number OF
shop employees after enforcement on
August OF orders issued by the Eric
Company calling for the resumption
-of the ton-hour day cessation OF pay
-rncnt Of overtime for Sunday worE
ard submission TO 4 physical exam
nation nv each employee. Until re-
Gently force Of from 100 TO 500 men
has been maintained.
Railroad officials have admitted
that number OF men have left the
employment OF the company because
II dislike for the new working con-
iitions. hut = statement issued today
over tho signatures OF tho presidents
~ the shop crafts unions declared the
men had been "Scnt homo" in each
case whore ,hev had refused to re-
nort for work SUNDAY At the straight
10 undergo the prescribed physical
examinations.
An advertisement in an evening pa
pcr horc announced that the new on
Grating concern had employment for
"a number Of machinistS and boiler
makCre" and that physical cxami-
nation would, not he REQUIRED.
In announcing establishment Of the
now operating Comnany. the FIRST Of
SIS Kind IN tho country, tho Eric Com
nanv declared Il had resulted from n
belief that 'locnl conditions can best
hc improved anh most intelligcntly
mot 10y tho knowledge and interest OF
local supervision and support" Much
~ the maintenance" and rcpair work
80 tho Eric Conpany heretofore has
hcoN done un,'cr contract In territory
covered by the line. an announccmc,,.
sail
Tonight number OF men were
walking around III" roun'Tnuec and
shoa huilH'n~s. arra-rntIv acting as
guards Feeling which 'va. aroused
when tho Eric Comoan" announced
SIS new WORKING conditions. apparent
" had not abptod after tpdar's an
rounccmert but there was no out
ward Indication that trouble was
likely