Arizona republican., 1921-10-25
SANTA # ASKS ITS
 MEM ID THINK WELL
 BEFORE STRIKING

GAl OiiA U OltitNiiRO
 The following statement has been issued by President Storey of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail- road:
 Fellow Employes of the Santa Fe:
 The santa Fe is once more facing a crlsls; the leaders of the various pfotnefhoods have told us through t tile newspapers that strike is to begln on our road on Nov. 1 next We are as vet unadvised as to the clasSes or employees that will be in- vowed except that the word is def mite as to the train and engine broth erhoods. In order that you may know the attitude of your company in the important matter the following an nouncement IS made: The Santa Fe has for many years had agreements $ with the four train and enginemen's s brotherhoods. It has in times past had agreements with other employees and It has at all times endeaVored to carry out to the letter every pro- vlslon Of those agreements. Minor differences of opinion have arisen rom time to time, but we have al- ways been glad to meet and talk them over and have succeeded in living together in peace and harmony While the road was in the possession Of the government, agreements were made by the administration with practically all the organizations of railroad employees and these agree ments being nation wide in extent were applied to the Santa Fe
 When the railorads came back the labor board, which had been formed to prevent differences from threat enlng the transportation of the coun- try, decreed that the agreements as made by the government administra- ton should continue until changed by order of the board. The Santa Fe followed the orders and has dealt with all its employees under these agreements and in addition has in creased wages under the boards or der. In July, 1920, the board made increases in wages aggregating about P per cent, effective May l. on the grounds that the cost of living had increased to a figure that warranted such increase. Later, when q marke decline in prices lowered the cost of living the railroads of the country asked that the wages in effect before July, 1920, be restored and the board after hearing and investigation grant ed portion of the request effective as of July l, and the Santa F'e put these new wages into effect.
 Our train and enginemen through their respective leaders asked the railroads (and the Santa Fe among 1 them) for a conference to consider 1 the restoration of the rates estab- lished in July, 1920. and promise 1 that further reductions would not be
 asked. In view of the general lower | ing of wages throughout the country and the changes that are taking place l u-a did 11nf he i done, especially in view of the in- sistent demand that is sweeping the country for lower freight rates. A
 strike vote was ordered, and we have been told, not by our employees but by the heads of the brotherhoods, that the strike vote was almost unani- nous.
 We do not know what 1t was on the
 Santa Fe, but we feel certain that il
 was far from unanimous and we dC
 know that on certain roads not more than 40 per cent voted in favor and or some of these roads we know tha
 most of the men will not go out. The
 Santa Fe, therefore. finds itself con | fronted with d threatened strik,
 through the decision of the labol
 board, a body of nine men constituted
 as the arbiter under the laws of th'
 United States. On the board ar,
 three representatives of labor ant three representative of the public. l The management of the Santa F.
 has a duty to. the public to give i proper service at as low rates as pos
 sible; it has a duty to it's employe
 to pay them living wages and to malS l. their working conditions as comfort able as possible; 1t has duty to it stockholders to give them a prope return on the money invested in tn property. In it's effort to aecomplis the first it must at the present tim attempt to reduce it's expenses, bu l.in doing this it is willing to leave t the labor board the question of wha ] is fair living wage. If this bring on a strike, the road will have to mee it to the best of it's ability
 In doing this an appeal is made | every employe to look the questio fairly in the face. A strike mean the following: Loss of position if tn l strike is not won, and no strike ha ever been won on the Santa Fe: soI row and suffering to those depen dent on you while looking for anothe
 -o'i "a cnange in home surroundings r loss of pension rights and other priv . ileges gained by long years of servic . If you are a member of any of th organizations which have ordered strike, consider all the facts as give above and make your decision as ,, whether you will go out after call
 de1iberation. If you are not connecte with such organizations we ask yo to lend us your moral support. w |. believe we are right in this matter we would not go into the struggle. ~