Evening journal., 1921-08-01
PENNSY GOES
AHEAD WITH
Piece WORK
continned From First Page.

naNlnE Oeen received OF lndl uecl-
sion. 1t was int,fnated that the COM
pany officials will contend that cleo
tion of the committees that have de-
clded on rules effecting working con-
ditions Of the company workmeh,
was legal.
The Wilmington advisory board
OF the employees OF the local car
shops at Todd's Cut OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad will meet tonight in
the Labor Temple Tenth and Tatnall
streets to discuss the decision OF the
Federal Commission. Reports also
will be presented by representatives
Of the six shop crafts. which com
prise machinlsts, boilermakers,
blacksmiths. sheet metal workers.
carmen and electrical workers.
An official of the mems organiza-
tions today made the following
statement:
I'm effect this decision Is that the
carriers are instructed to make
agreements with their employees own
representatives when they represent
more than so per cent. Of their to-
tai working force.
"In this district, as well as on the
Pennsylvania lines east and west OF
Pittsburgh. the men have elected as
their representative System Fedora
tion. No. 90. which is affiliated with
the railway employees department OF
the American Federation Of Labor.
1T is the intention OF the men
to comply with the boards decision
and to insist that the railroad COM
pany also live up to its terms"
Approximately $50 men are now
employed at the Todd's Cut shops, II
was said today Many Of the men, 1t
was said. who signed piece work
pledges are addressing letters TO +.
b. Whitman. master mechanic at the
shops. insisting that their signatures
be Withdrawn as party to the agree
ment claiming that they signed
under coercion. The men claim that
the action Of the railroad officials in
obtaining their signatures was coh-
trary to the national agreements be-
tween employers and employees and
contrary to decision No. 119, dockets
\, 2, and 3 and Addendum No.
rendered by the United States Labor
Board.
IL was announced this morning by
a company official that owing to the
small force OF examiners at the Office
Of the Master Mechanic only about
$50 OF the first 500 men who are TO
be re-employed under the piece
work plan have been examined as
/ required. There were said to be
about so at the Office waiting for ex-
J .f,ln this
morning. 1t was also announced
that those men who have remained
at work and have agreed TO the
piece work plan and the $50 re-em-
ployed under that plan went to work
this morning without any trouble
whatever being experienced. They
have accepted the plan, as presented
TO them by the company without a
! rrumble." this official said. The
work OF examining and hiring men
for piece work will continue, he
added
/ From the office OF Gamble La
trobe. general superintendent or the
Southern General Division a state
ment was issued this morning deny
ing that any coercion was used 10
get men to accept the piece plan'
The statement follows:
"we are not forcing any one 70
laccept the agreement
I'VE OF course cannot employ men
who will not accept the working con-
ditions laid down by the agreement
Neither the company nor the men
who have accepted the piece work
plan. want any one employed who
will create strife among the err
ployes: therefore the agreement Is
given each man applying. to read
and any points not understood eN-
plaIned. II he Is willing TO acc' pi
il. he is then. II physically Mt AID
otherwise qualified, put TO work. II
the applicant refuses to accept th'
plan. he is not employed. and as foi
making any threats. we positively
deny they have been made with oul
knowledge or consent, and II such
b were found to be true. the one max
ing such threat or limitations wouls
b. Immediately be discontinued in oul
= employ"
Members OF the Pennsylvania Sys
tenn Federation Advisory Board
representing the various crafts em
. ployed in the Pennsylvania railroa,
] shops at Todd's Cut Wilmington
8 express themselves as highly pleasei
! with the decision just handed dow
I by the United States Railroad Labo
Board, in Chicago.
Edward r. Logan. one or the Off
cials on the board, said: The de
cision bears out our contention tina
the railroad company was trying &
force the union majority to agre
and be subservient to regulation
that were negotiated by a majorit
elected on a company ballot.
THE decision opens the way 10
an adjustment OF the questions O
working conditions" he said. "an
b ! believe it will work out ali right.
Mr.. Logan called attention TO IN
fact that the Federations conten
ton has been right. that the rule
o laid down by the United State
b Labor Board in Decision No. lis
are still in force. except what
known as addendum No. ., relativ
20 extra pay for overtime work
[ which Is still the subject OF conten
r tion. "All we have asked" said MI
b Logan. "is that the railroad com
. pany obey the law"
He expressed the opinion that tn
J. company would now be obliged &
j forego its plans TO install the piece
IS work system in the Wilmington
d shops. we are all going 10 repor
'e for work" he said. but we are nc
A going TO sign any piece-work agree
a. ment"