Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-01

retained, as contemplated by the
Transportation
The rules controversy dates back
to May /, 1920, when the railroads
emerged from government control.
Strenuous objections to the National
Agreement were made in a hearing
which began January 10, 1921. Aft
er several months Of testimony, the
rules were referred back to the in
dividual roads with Instructions to me-
gotiate such new rules as they could
with their employees to replace the
federal government rules.
Numerous rules were thus agreed
upon on individual roads, but on NO
road was it possible to draft the en-
tire new set. The rules disagreed
upon were then sent back to the La
Dor Board, and the rules promulgated
today will replace any such rules
NOT agreed upon by the roads and
their employees. In any case where
rule has been agreed upon by the
carrier and its employees, that rule
governs, even though the Labor Board
rule may be entirely different.
The majority of the changes eff
fected by the new rules is in the
classification of the work to be per-
formed by the various crafts. AL
most without exception these classi-
fications are made more elastic. I'm
der previous agreements with the
shop crafts, including the National
Agreement, it has been the custom
to define in detail the various types
of working belonging to each craft.
The carriers have complained that
the National Agreement set up in
such minute detail the classification
Of duties that work not requiring spe-
cialized skill in any craft was assign
ed exclusively to a particular craft.
For example work not requiring
mechanic's skill was assigned to a
skilled mechanic, thus making eff
cient and economical operation impos-
sible, according to the railroads.
Broader Scope of Work.
The rules effective today broaden
the scope of each crafts work. The
machinist working On running repairs
may connect or disconnect any wir-
ing, couplig or pipe connections
to repair machinery or
equipment This work was previous
ly assigned to electricians and sheet
metal workers only.
Under the new rules, engineers,
firemen and cranesmen are not pro-
hibited from making such repairs to
equipment on the lines of the road
as they are qualified to perform. The
new rules thus allow train operatives
to perform repair work even though
it is ordinarily considered shop me
chanic's work.
Boiler makers helpers under the
new rules are given the Job of re-
moving and replacing CRATES. Under
the National Agreement all CRATE
rigging work was assigned to journey
men boiler makers.
The classification of the work of
the sheet metal workers, electrical
workers and car men has been chang
ed to allow some of the work pre-
yiously performed by them exclusive
ly to be done by their helpers and
to mechanics in other crafts, where
the needs of the service require. it.
Under the ational Agreement car
men, were exclusive1y assigned to
crews. Under the new
rules, wrecking crews, exclusive of
engineers, will be composed of car
men, where sufficient men are avail
able but when needed, men of any
clasa may be taken as additional
Of wrecking crews.
Another important change affeet-I
ing. car. men is that which allows COM
mon laborers to dismantle wooden
freight cars hereafter. Under the
National Agreement, only qualified
were allowed to do this
work. About 6S per cent of the
country's freight cars are built of
wood. The new rule will permit em-
ployes getting $3.25 to $500 day
to do work previously required to
be done by ear men receiving 1854 !
a day.
New Type of Apprentice.
An entirely new rule promulgated
by the board, for the first time, cre-
ates new type of apprentice to be-
known as special apprentice" Pre-
vicusly there have been only two
kinds of apprentices in the skilled
shop crafts, regular and helpers APP
prentices. Regular apprentices areI
youths entering the service between
the ages of 16 and 81 years and
serving four years apprenticeship,
and helper apprentices are those ap-I
prentiees selected from the ranks of
the helpers. Special apprentices are
to be selected from young men be-
tween the ages of 1S and 26, who
have had technical school education,
and they will be required to serve
only three years apprenticeship be-
fore becoming jurneymen mechanics.
Rules which required certain stand
ards of force and equipment to be
maintained for doing certain kinds