Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-07
LABOR BOARD
RULES AGAINST
ERIE RAILROAD
Declares Rules Have Been
Violated in Six Re-
.spects.

Chicago, March THE railroad la
Dor boardattoda handed down a de-
ctsion ruling that the Erie railroad
had violated previous board rulings in
Stx fespssstsSssparticular1y in reducing
the wages Of employees and in failing
to cancel these reductions when or
dered to do SO by the board. The road
commended h a the board must hold a
hearing before ordering restoration of
previous rates Of pay.
Aithough III decision did not again
order h road specifically to restore
the wage rates Of decision No. 2. the
wage award, it declared that when
the Erie shall have rescinded the
orders constituting violation of de-
Ifision No. and shall have paid the
wages determined by decision No. 2
10 besJust andsreasonahle'& to such of
its 4 employees Jas have moi agreed to
receive CELEBRATE of wages and
WI y also 1T shall be made to appear
that h Officers of his carrier have
had or sought a conference with the
authorized and designated representa-
Ftives Of the employees directly inter-
ested and when. If it has not been
reasonably possible to decide the dis
putes in conferences. the dispute shall
have to be referred to this board this
""t ASoi III ucLcI lIllIc SUCH
disputes and decide what wages are
now just and reasonable.
This board cannot 20 consider in
this proceeding what wages are now
Just Understandable for the employees
EEepncerhed hsrein. This proceeding is
to determining whether or not there
has been a violation by this carrier of
decision Noe of this board"
A Clean Cut Victory. IT,
Th g. 1noiSior ~ NO - .F
clean cut victory for the employees in
labor circles, the board. .upholding
laborss contention tof violation of de-
cision No. 2 by the Erie in every in
stance.
Failure of the railroad labor board
"a: penalize the Erie railroad after
ruling in. a decision handed down to-
day that he road had violated pre-
Gus board rulings. brought q state
ment from Judge r. NJ. Barton.
chairman. that the board is purely a
mediation body with no power to EN-
force decisions.
Il have no recollection <of any
provision in the. transportation act
which gives the board any power to
enforce its decisions. We depend
largely on public opinion and the will
Hngness Of the roads and, their EN- :
ployes to accept the sdecpsions OF 7an
albp ALlAdL iieu dtOT!, HUOuy. % '...: :.
Il cannot anticipate what action
the board would take in event one side
or the other actually refuses to com
ply with the boards decisions after a
fair hearingaH ~ 4;
Railroad and labor leaders said the
board was not given enforcement
powers in the TRANSPORTATION act but
that public opinion and a desire on
both sides for f~airnessl were all the
powers that had been thought neces-
sary." = ~.
The railroad ordered a "a per cent
reduction in the pay Of track men ef-
|fective February i; ami later ignored
the boards order ito restore wages to
the rates ordered in the boards deci-
sion of July, 1920. 1
The road set a precedent.b by atsscon-
Ftention that 4 hearing would have TO
be held on the board order to restore
the previous rates OF pay. Had to-
days decision been favorable to The
kErieyit would open the way for scores
Of similar ~contentions. by other roads.