, 1921-12-01
CHANGES MADE
IN RAIL RULES

-" eAe RtIAAlG tAt(INt 10
day.
Far reaching changes In the rules
which supplant the national ngreo,
ment made during federal control
were designed to afford a basis for
permanent stability In the railroad
shops OF the country and were de
ciared by. members of the Labor board
to be the most important work yet
done by he board and of much great,
er Significance than any decision In
the past. NJ including wage scale
adjustments.
Large economies are expected to re
suit from revision OF tho classified
ton rules, which were made mort
elastic. and hereafter win permi,
members of certain crafts TO do mi
nor Jobs previously done by members
of other crafts. Statisticians attached
to the Labor board estimated that
economies in operation. increased ef
hciency and larger output. would pa
proximate $4,000. 900 a year.
Provision for the representation Of
minoritles who may have grievances
10 another Important item OF the new
rules. Under the national agree
ment. negotiation for employees was
placed almost wholly in the hands o.
labor organizations, with the result
that the railroads and many indus
trial and civic institutions declared
that the agreement forced n CLOSED
union shop on the roads. Eon-union
men found it impracticable to at
tempt to bring their grievances be
Tore the board and as the rules work
ed tut union officials handled the
cases, taking their precedent from
h national agreement negotiations
In which union officials acted for the
employees In drawing up the agree
ment under federal control.
THE principle OF the pen shop cs
tabiished by the new rules" a state
ment by board members said. will In
fact, be more theoretical than prac
teal at the present time. since 9
large majority OF the railroad shops
are unionized and the existing union.
are recognized by the board and by
the transportation act as representa-
tive OF the majority.
Most OF the older working rules
sanctioned by the experience OF years
are preserved in full effect. Many o
the more rigid rules. however, were
considerably relaxed in favor OF the
roads. although the recognized right,
Of the men are fully protected and
the principle OF collective bargaining
and union reorganization is retained
as contemplated by the transporta
ton
The rules controversy dates back ts
May !, 1920. when the railroads
emerged from government control
Strenuous objections to the nationa.
agreement were made in a hearing
which began January 10, 1921. Aftel
several months of testimony. thu
rules were referred back to the indi
vidual roads with instructions to ne
gotiate such new rules as they coult
with their employees to replace TIL,
federal government rules.
Numerous rules were thus agreed
upon on individual roads. but on nj
road was It possible to draft an en-
tiro new set. Tho rules disagreed up
on were then sent back to 1.-THE La
Dor board. and the rules promulgated
today viii replace any such rules no
agreed upon by the roads and theii
employees. In any casc where a rul,
has been agreed upon by the carrier
and its employees. that rule governs
0h6AA tAAabkA lag AntCA tOoA4 NV
may be entirely different.
The majority of the changes effect
ed by the new rules is IN tho CLASH
ncation of tho work to be performed
by the various crafts. Almost with
out these cl~assincations are mads
more elastic. Under previous agree
ments with h shop crafts. including
the national agreement. It has beer
the custom to define in detail the
various types OF work belonging te
each craft
The carriers have complained thai
the national agreement set up in suct
minute detail the classification of du
ties that work not requiring special
lied skill In any craft was assigned
exclusively to a particular craft. Fol
example work not requiring q me
chanic's skill was assigned to i
skilled mechanic. thus making eff
Client and economical operation I'm
possible. according to the railroads
The rules effective today broaden
the scope OF each crafts work. The
macfiinist working on running repair
may connect or disconnect any wiring
coupling or pipe connections neces
sary to repair machinery or equip
ment. This work was previously as
signed to electricians and sheet meta
workers only.
Under the new rules, engineers
nremen and cranemen are not pro
hibited from making such repairs to
equipment on the lines Of the road as