Evening journal., 1921-04-16
ROADS, UNIONS
BOTH PLEASED
Each Side Believes Decision
Will Lead to Correc-
tiOnS
EXECUTIVES SEE END
OF WAGE PYRAMlDING

sides claiming victory in the deci-
sion Of the United States Railway
Labor Board abrogating the national
agreements members OF the execu-
tive council Of the Railway Employees
Department Of the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor representing a half
million men, met In executive session
{ odiscuss the situation.
The council. including J. r. An
derson Of the International Associa-
ton Of Machinists, J. W. Kline Of the
International Brotherhood Of Black
smiths. Martin r. Ryan OF the
Brotherhood of Railway Carmen and
+. II. Fitzgerald OF the Switchmen's
Union OF Month America, gave out
the following statement Of their coll
lective attitude:
Railway employees can accept the
decision because It involves no i'm
pairment Of their economic or So
cial status. Indeed, TO have this code
promulgated by governmental
agency such as the United States
Railroad LABOR Board means more
TO organized labor than any other
code that has ever been established
in any industry. II is vindication
Of the fundamental principles for
which we have contended consis-
| tently and persistently, and its accep-
tance is good faith by railroad man
agements will mean the public inter-
est will be fully conserved.
I'VE believe that the decision
marks a new era in industrial free
dom. We have never been primar-
/ ily interested in technical rules or
/ Technology. although the railroads
/ have endeavored by their propa-
gGnda to make us appear in this
light before the public. We have
/ been and are now fighting for hu-
man rights and the fundamental
| economic rights of railway em-
ployes. The Labor Board has more
than vindicated our position. They
have to a great extent established by
/ their decision the bill OF rights for
which we have been contending.
This decision OF the Labor Board
will not only have very strong and
/ beneficial effect upon the transpor-
tation industry. but IL will mark the
real beginning of industrial law. so
to speak. and OF a code OF princi-
procedure in all our basic industries.
II is the most courageous andi for
ward looking decision that we have
government tribunal in the develop
so far had in this country from a
Government tribunal is the develop
ment of a correct basis for indus
trial relations and conditions"
Railway Executives Statement
a statement issued by z. T..
Whittier. chairman of the Association
OF Railway Executives Conference
Committee, was as follows:
THE decision upholds some OF the
contentious of the labor unions and
some Of the contentious Of the rail-
ways. The board has refused to
comply with the demand of the
unions that the entire rules matter
be referred to national conferences
between the railroads and the labor
unions. Subject to certain princi-
pies. the board has abrogated the
national agreements and remanded
the negotiation of rules and work
ing conditions to conferences be-
tween the individual railways and
their own employees.
while the representatives OF the
railways would have preferred that
all the questions involved should be
referred to individual conferences.
the decision has given opportunity
for arrangements between individ-
ual roads and their employees which
can be made much more reasonable
than the present national agree
ments and which, in a large measure.
can be adapted to tho local condi-
tions Of each carrier
The statement said that since the
decision did not permit restoration
OF the rules and working conditions
in effect on December 81, 1917. the
increase in efficiency to be gained
is problematical and to the extent
that it prevents this II will prevent
restoration of the efficiency and
economy which formerly prevailed
under private operation"
principles laid down by the board
clearly indicate its disapproval OF
rules which the railways have shown
result I'm employees being paid for
time greatly in excess OF that actual
"The entire tenor OF the decision is
Ily worked" the statement continued.
that the railways should be eco
nomically operated. that employees
should render efficient labor for al
the time for which they are paid
and that the artificial 'pyramiding
. OF wages, which under the present
rules has resulted in large waste
should cease"
The boards recognition OF collect
, i've bargaining meant national bar
gaining. while the railroads say the
board has recognized the fact that
! true collective bargaining consists OF
, negotiations between each railway
J iand its nun nn1nlnvnsn -