Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-01

Chicago, Nov. 30.-Economies In
operation and increased efficiency,
estimated to reach $50,000,000 Il
wear, and recognition Of the "open
shop" on all American railroads
were forecast tonight in the pro-
mitigation of revised working rules
governing railroad shop employees
by the United States railroad labor
board.
The new rules become effective
morrow, December /, and take
jurisdiction over approximately
400, 900 men Immediately although
still larger number will be af-
fected when the normal traffic
conditions are restored.
Far-reaching Changes.
Far-reaching changes in the
rules which supplant the national
agreement made during federal
control, were designed to afford
basis for permanent stability In
the railroad shops Of the country
and were declared by members OF
the labor board to be the most inn
portant work yet done by the
board and of much greater signifi-
canoe than any decision In the
past, even including the wage scale
adjustments.
Large economies are expected to
result from revision of the CLASH
fication rules, which were made
more elastic, and hereafter will
permit members of certain crafts
TO do minor jobs previously done
by members of other crafts. Stat
isticians attached to the labor
board estimated that economies in
operation, increased efficiency and
larger output would approximate
$50,000,00O a year,
Non-uniOnists Recognized.
Provision for the representation
of minoritles who may have grew
ances is another important item of
the new rules. Under the national
agreement, negotiation for en-
ployes was placed almost wholly Ia
the hands Of labor organizations,
with the result that the railroads
and many industrial and civic in
stitutions declared that the agree.
ment forced closed union shop on
the roads. ,Non-union men found IL
impracticable to attempt to bring
their grievances before the board
and as the rules worked out, union
officials handled the cases, taking
their precedent from the national
agreement negotiations In which
union officials acted for the en-
ployes in drawing up the agree
lnent under federal control.
THE principle of the open shop
established by the new rules" a
Statement by board members said,
"will in fact be more theoretical
than practical at the present time,
Since large majority of the rail-
road shops are unionized and thu
existing unions are recognized by
the board and transportation act
as representative of the major
Ety."
Rigid Rules Relaxed.
S Most of the older working
rules sanctioned by the experience
of years, are preserved in full eff
feet. Many Of the more rigid rules, |
however, were considerably relaxed |
in favor of the roads, although the |
recognized rights of the men are
fully protected and the principle of |
collective bargaining and union |
recognition is retained, as contem- |
plated by the transportation"
n The rules controversy dates back |
TO May /, 1920, when the railroads |
emerged from government control, |
strenuous objections to the ma
uonal agreement were made in n |
hearing which began January 10. |
1871. After several months OF |
testimony, the rules were referred |
pack to the individual roads with |
instructions to negotiate such new |
rules as they could with their en-
ployes to replace the federal gov
ernment rules.
Numerous rules were thus agreed |
upon on individual roads. but on no |
road was 1t possible to draft an
entire new set. The rules disagreed +,
upon were then sent back to the |
labor board, and the rules promul- |
gated today will replace any such |
rules not agreed upon by the roads |
and their employees. In any case
where rule has been agreed upon |
by the carrier and it's employees. |
H.at rule governs, even though the |
labor board rule may be entirely |
different
b Elastic Classifications.
y The majority of the changes eff |
4ecteu Dy the new rules is in the |
classification of the work to be
performed by the various crafts. |
Almost without exception these |
classifications are made more elias
tic. Under previous agreements
with the shop crafts, including the |
national agreement. 1t has been the
custom to define in detail the vari-
Gus types of work belonging to each
craft.
The carriers have compliance
that the national agreement set up
in such minute detail the classifi- /
cation of duties that work not re-
curing specialized skill in any craft
was assigned exclusively to a par
ticular craft. For example work
not requiring a mechanics skill
was assigned to a skilled mechanic.
thus making efficient and econo-
mical operation impossible, accord
ing to the railroads.
The rules effective today broaden
the scope OF each crafts work. The
machinist working on running re-