The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-10-07
Tell OF Controversy Between
Employees and Pennsy. Ry.
Management
Outline Policy OF U. S. Labor
Board And Attitude OF
Railway Employees
Mt. Vernon, O., Oct. 5, 1921.
To The Editor The Daily Banner,

Dear Sir-We noted with interest
the editorial appearing in the October
1st issue of your paper, under head
ing "The Labor Boards Work"
In the article referred to you stated,
"The President of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company finds startling and
revolutionary in effect the recent ac-
tion of the u. s. r. r. Labor Board
denying railroads right to discharge
men simply because they belong to a
Labor Union" Your article also hav-
ing stated, What is sauce for the
goose. however, is sauce for the gan
der, or railroad men should not be al
lowed to go on strike at will for caus-
es subject to the jurisdiction of the
U. S. r. r. Labor Board"
II is our opinion that the public
have not been given clear insight
into the actual status of the contro-
versy between the management and
the employees of the Pennsylvania
Railroad company.
When the twelve per cent reduc-
tion was ordered by the U. S. r. r.
Labor Board the employees accepted
same under protest. A ballot was put
out to the employees by the organiZa-
ton, as to whether or not the reduc-
tiOn would be accepted or rejected,
and the result of said ballot was prac-
tically unanimously in favor of rejec-
tion however,, the decision ordering
the reduction was put into effect, the
rates of the employees were reduced,
and still there has been no strike.
The u. s. II. r. Labor Board, In its
decision No. 21S, ordered the manage
ment of the Pennsylvania to meet and
negotiate working agreement rules
with the organization representing the
majority of the employees. Had the
management abided by the decision of
the Board the serious situation which
confronts us today would not have
arisen. But the management did not
abide by the decision; they spread a
ballot which required the employees
to vote for individuals to represent
them, not organizations which the EN-.
ployes had built up with their money
and, consequently only approximate
| ly ten per cent of the employees with,
in the Shop Crafts voted the company
ballot. System Federation No. 80, the
Shop Crafts employees organization
on the Pennsylvania, spread ballot
at the same time the one was put out
by the management, and approximate
ly ninety per cent of the employees
voted to have System Federation No
80 represent them in the negotiating
Of agreement rules.
The matter of form of ballot was
referred to the u S. X. II. Labor
Board. and the Board directed that the
management meet with the represen
tatives of System Federation No, 80
within specified time. for the pur
pose of formulating plans for thu
holding of another election, in which
election the employees were to be Civ
en- opportunity to vote for organiza
tions or individuals as they desired
The management refused to compl.
with this order of the board, but wen
ahead with the negotiating of agree
ment rules with the committees a
elected by the few employees who dit
vote for individuals on the manage
ments' original ballot.
The Pennsylvania management
then made application to have the U
s.. X. X. Labor Board vacate their DE
cision No. 21S, and to permit them t
continue the policy they had adopted
In this connection the Labor Boar
issued an announcement, under dat
OF September 10th. 1921, which reads
In part, as follows;
''In Decision No. 21S, bearing dat
of July 20. 1921, It was directed tina
a conference of the carrier and tn
representative of the class of en-
ployes concerned, organized and III
organized, be held ON or before Aui
ust 10, 1921, to complete arrang,
ments for said election. On Angus
10, 1921, the last day OF this perio,
the carrier asked for 15.day extel
sion thereof, This request was promp
ly granted by the board. The tin
having been fixed In the first plaC
to enable both parties to hold sal
conference and arrange for said ele
: tion, the extension of time was gran
ed for the same purpose. II appear
however. that the time SO granted h,
!. not been used for the purpose inten
ed, that the conference directed hi
not been held, and that no steps hs