Arizona republican., 1921-04-08
RAIL MECHANICAL UNIONS
 ASK PRESIDENT HARDING
 TO CALL CONFERENCE T0I DRAFT NEW AGREEMENTS
Propose That All Wage Disputes Be Held in Abeyance Pending Conference, Holding That Question of Wages Can Be Quickly Settled When Basic Rules
 Have Been Accepted: Present 12 Settlement Points
IRepubIican A. p. Leased WIrel


 CHICAGO, April Five railroad labor unions with 500.000 members to- night submitted to President Harding labors plan for ending industrial dis puteS between the roads and their workers, proposing that the president call conference of representatives of both sides at which new rules gov erning working conditions would be made to take the place of the national agreements, now in dispute before the railroad labor board.
 The proposal was contained in a statement by representatives of the five mechanical unions and was sent to the president by B. M. Jewell, pres ident of the Railway Employes' de- pertinent of the American Federation of Labor. It proposed that all wage disputes be held in abeyance pending the conferences. holding that wages could be quickly adjusted when the question of rules had been settled
 The telegram was sent in response to request from President Harding at the conference with MT. Jewell that labor submit it's plan for ending the railroad industrial troubles. It included F points which were termed .labor's self evident and inalienable rights which, it said, would have to be settled at the proposed conference, and specified that the national agree ments should not be discounted in any way pending the outcome of the proposed conference.
 It was suggested that the confer ence be held under the jurisdiction of have full authority over it.
 Included in the 12 points were the basic eight-hour day, the right of collective bargaining, the right of each craft to decide what organiza- ton should represent it in any con- ferences with employers and adjust ment of proper pay for overtime.
 Oppose Unjust Rules
 The statement said that the unions did not contend for continuation of any rule which was not just and that it would be easy to decide at the pro- posed conference what rules could be made national and what matters, would have to be settled locally.
 "Our national agreement provides the only safeguard for the transpor- tation industry against injustice and industrial warfare and for this req son 1t must not be discontinued until an understanding has been had by mutual agreement as to the funda- mental guarantees of industrial jus tice." said the statement.
 "We recommend therefore the fol- lowing:
 That a conference committee be called composed Of practical mechan- ical department officials from each of be general managers districts to represent the carriers and an equal number of representatives selected by the employees This conference com mittee should agree upon disposition of any rules 1t might deem impractic- able of general application. They should attempt to agree on such rules as can be made general in their appli- cation on all railroads insofar as it is possible to have such uniformity without imposing any unjust or up- reasonable conditions and they should recognize those principles and safe guards which the members of our or ganizations consider fundamental an( irreducaDie."
 Points of Settlement
 The statement outlined the l. points as follows:
 s'The right to organize and nego tiate collectively through representa- lives of their own choosing.
 ..The protection of employe against discrimination because o membership in trade unions or be cause of legitimate trade union ac tivities.
 ..The right of the majority in eacl craft on each railroad to determin what organization shall represen them, this organization to have tn right to negotiate an agreemen which shall apply to all the worker in the craft.
 .The right of the majority of eac craft on each railroad to select committee or representatives wh shall handle all grievances which ma arise affecting all employees of tn craft in accordance with the provis ions of the agreement
 Flight hours as the recognize measure of standard work day.
 "As a protective measure, to safe guard the standard work day, pay ment for time worked in excess of tn regular eight hours at proportional overtime rates
 .aThe beginning and ending ( work.r> shifts to be so arranged g 10 permit of living arrangements b emnloyes and their families.
 Clear and concise definition in th ease of each craft of the work to performed by mechanics and helper
 .sEstabIishment of apprenticeshi reouirements so as to develop a SUI ficient number of competent me chanics.
 .Applicants for employment as m' chanicS to SHo" ,hoc litey served an apprenticeship of fo, years or performed mechanics woI for a similar period and not to be d. r;ed ernployment when their servic' are needed. for any reason other tha their inability to perform the wol Tor which they are making apple; tiohs nized. o,,1, col
 "Establishment oe reasonable saf y,,ards for the protection or neal