The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-09
SEVER COMMENDS' NEW WORKING PLAN .OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Discusses Railroad Proposal Whereby Employees Given Voice In Management
 of Property


 l.. Sever. president of the Ala bama Manufacturers association yes terday. called attention to the new plan of the Pennsylvania railroad for dealing with it's employees, where by the employees are to have voice In the management. Discussing the details of the plan which is attract ing wide attention throughout the country. Mir. Sevier said
 By decision No. t19 of the United States labor board all national agreements have been abrogated as of July 1. 1921, such agreements being those as made effective during the administration of the railroads by the United States government, and which have remained in effect since the railroads were returned to their owners all oe which has re- suited in complex situation as to railroad operation. resulting in bur- den upon the transportation com panies of this country and prevent ing the railroads functioning to the end of giving to the public that service the public demanCs.
 'The vice president in charge of operation of the Pennsylvania system. w. w. Atterbury, in circular is- sued. Philadelphia, May 20, to em- ployeS calls attention to decision 119 of the railroad labor board. which places in the hands of such individual railroad the handling of it's own affairs. and recognizes that there arc three "musts" that will have to be worked out between tho employer and the employe in co-op- eration, they being as follows:
 '1-The public must have efficient and economic service.
 "2--The officers and the employees must be paid good wages in return for good service rendered.
 "3--The railroads must earn a req sonable -eturn OH the capital ir- vested in the property.
 ITO accomu,isn this, he proposes through tho representatives of the employees to be selected by their own number, union and non-uuion em- ployes being given the same recogni- tion without discrimination who will be empowered to speak for the. men as selected will be recognized by the management. and in such recogni- ton the men so elected will be called into conference in order to negotiate rules and regulations, which representatives so chosen will be protected in their position, no matter what will be their attitude with reference to the provisions of such rules and regulations. In at tending conferences such represen- tatives will be provided with the necessary transportation, and the company will reimburse them for time lost, and for reasonable ex- penses while on this service.
 "The general adoption of the prac- tical and progressive proposals of the Pennsylvania system is worthy of consideration on the part of the executives of all the railroads, and it will establish a form of employ ment relationship in which the em ploye has a representative voice In every contention of his employment relation but the management re- tains the power to fulfill its primary obligation to the public. that is, to assure uninterrupted and efficient service at reasonable rates.
 '"rhe only competition which is generally permissible legally and between our CaTTlciS IS that Of service. If the same oporat- ing conditions were placed upon all without regard to the peculiar cir cumstances and conditions under which each produces transportation the competition of service in which the public has the keenest interest will be substantially obliterated, and the weaker roads overwhelmed with unbearable burdens.
 "On the other hand. if the powerful labor organizations are permitted to dominate operating conditions it means an endeavor to compel unifor- omic consequences, and holds over the head of both the carrier and the shipper the specter of service threat ened with interruptions unless de- mands are granted.
 Tt will be observed that the Pennsylvania plan would give to the employees of the railroad full repre- sentation among their own number, selected by secret ballot. and with out regard to whether they belong ed to union or not, The organiza- tion of representatives thus es- abolished to represent the men in dealing with the management is com posed of those who have a common
 
 ment and represents the non-union as well IS the union men. It com plies in letter and spirit with decis- .o1 1l9. but it rests upon the vital fundamental proposition that each road is the unit of operation and co-ordinating self interest 1t pre- vents the subordination of the special conditions of each carrier to uni form national policy which the nat ionalt agreements were intended to effcctuate. and in practice would
 Tt may be that the powerful rail- road unions will undertake to force national agreement back upon the road. Tn view of the demonstrated unbearable, uneconomic burdens which the practical operation of these agreements imposed upon the roads, and through them upon the shipping and travelling public. the carriers ought neither to be required nor per mitted to enter further upon such agreements. That which the Penn sylvania railroad proposes would seem to solve the question"