Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-16
SIXTEEN PEACE POINTS

THE order of the national Railroad Labor
Board abrogating on July the national
agreements entered into during the period of
government control was issued in answer to
the petition of the railroad managers
That petition was presented at meeting
Of the board in Chicago on January 81. Cen
cral w. W. Attcrbury, ms tho spokesman
for the roads said that unless there was
reduction in operating expenses many of
the lines would be forced into bankruptcy.
Tho Labor Board can avert this catas-
trophc. said Mr. Attcrbury. "by declaring
that the national agreements, rules and
working conditions arc terminated at once
that the question of reasonable and economi-
cal rules and working conditions shall he
remanded to negotiation between each carrier
and its employees and that as the basis for
such negotiations. the agreements. rules and
working conditions on each railroad as Of
December 81. 1917 shall be re established"
The board has not acted precipitately. II
has taken ten weeks to consider the matter.
Instead of ordering the nbrogation Of the
national agreements lat once" as Mr. At
terbury requested. il has given ten weeks
notice So that there may be time for an
adjustment of the minds of the men to the
new conditions and in order to give time to
negotiate new agreements.
The board has reserved to itself perfect
liberty of action in order to abrogate at an
earlier date the agreements affecting any
class Of employees "unduly delaying the
progress Of tho negotiations
There is now to begin a series Of contes-
cncPs between the men aud the managers Of
the different railroad systems so that they
may come to an agreement on wages and
conditions Of work. This is what the mana
gers asked for last January. It Is what the
Esch Cummins law contemplates. II II is
impossible for the two parties to come TO
an agreement in any given case, the Labor
Board can interfere IN the interest Of har-
mony.
The conditions that must be recognized
in the negotiations are laid down by the
board In statement of sixteen points likely
to become as famous in labor controversies
as President Wilson's fourteen points were
in the peace negotiations.
Tho right "f the men to organize without
interference or obstruction is asserted. and
their right TO act toward lawful objects
through the representatives Of their or.
ganization, whether those representatives are
employees of particular railroad or not.
must be agreed to by tin managers No
discrimination must be made by the mana.
gers between members and nonmcmbers Of
different organizations or between members
of different organizations. and members Of
organizations must not discriminate against
nonmcmbers or use other than lawful per-
suaSion to secure members.
This is substantially declaration in
favor of a real open shop on the railroads.
for II is an attempt to guarantee 10 the
railroad man n right to work whether he
belongs to q union or not.
The employers must agree that the work
ers have right to be consulted prior to any
decision reducing their wages or changing
their working conditions. and they must
agree not to discipline any worker without
giving him an opportunity to be- heard The
eight hour day is recognized in principle.
and the right Of men to pay when they are
ordered to report for work Is insisted on.
Many other points are touched on, but
they deal with details. The outstanding
features of the ruling arc n recognition of
real open shop. an admission of the right
Of the employees to organize and 10 be rep
resented by the officials of their organiza-
tion. and declaration in favor of the eight
hour day Th" program will lead to
settlement of all disputes If the managers
and the men nrc disposed to make peace.