Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-20
PENNSy PLEA GRANTED
BY RAIL LABOR BOARD
Company Insists on Right to
Deal With Men Irrespective
of Union.


Chicago. Sept. 2o.-The Pennsyl-
vania Railroad yesterday received per-
mission from the United States Rail-
road Labor Board to appear before I
on September &c in support of its plea
that the boards order that a new
election of employee representatives In
the negotiations over working con-
ditions be held should be annulled.
The board, in the ruling. gave the
road permission to present evidence on
three subjects. namely:
1. AS TO what employees not in
actual service OF the carrier may vote
I'm the election OF the employees rep
resentatives to conduct negotiations
with the road over rules and working
conditions.
2. AS To how the representative ca
pacity of spokesmen of unorganized
employees shall be ascertained.
5. on the adoption or ratification
of its shop craft rules by representa-
sives of said crafts fairly elected by q
majority of employees of that class.
The Pennsylvania request of Aug.
"a specifically asked four things: That
the board vacate its decision of July
&c, directing the Pennsylvania to con-
fer with union officers and hold new
election for employe representatives
TO negotiate working rules: that the
board find "in pursuance of the Trans
portation act" that the carrier has
the legal right to establish rules, either
with or without comforting with its
employees; that the board ratify agree
ments already made between the
Pennsylvania and its employees, and
that an oral hearing be granted tC
offer testimony in support of assertions
made i'm the roads petition.
In granting the last point the boarc
decided to confine the hearing to tht
three questions stated. The first ques'
ton WAS raised by the desire of the
unions to allow men laid of, furiough'
ed or on leave of absence to vote II
the representatives election. Th'
Pennsylvania has maintained tha
only men in its activity employ shoulS
vote.
The second point covers the class o
unorganized employees, which thu
unions claim to represent and which
the board in a recent decision SAT-
should be represented by any employ
holding the signed authorization o
100 employees to act for them.
The last point will give the Penn
sylvania opportunity to support it
contention that present values, nego
tiated by "employe representatives
selected at a general election, are nov
in effect and working satisfactorily.
Philadelphia, Sept. 2o.-Oficials @
the Pennsylvania Railroad last nigh
expressed pleasure that a rehearin
had been granted by the United State
Railroad Labor Board on certai
points of the boards order concern
ing new employees election. In
formal statement President Rea said
The Pennsylvania Railroad in thi
situation is seeking one fundament'
object. and one alone--the right
deal with its own employees withoI
interference by those having interest
TO promote other than those of the en-
pioyes of the Pennsylvania Railroa
and the service of this company to til
public.
The Pennsylvania Railroad is mas
ing no fight against organized labor
on the contrary. it has made it cles
that it will deal, and it is, in fact, az
tuaily dealing with a large number {
members Of labor organizations WI
have been selected by the employees
represent them in their collective II
lationship with the management.
The Pennsylvania Railroad shou
have the cooperation of the Railroa
Labor Board in its efforts to establis
harmonious and helpful working a
raneements between itself and It's en-
ployes."