The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-04-22
ANNULS RAIL
LABOR PACTS
Working Conditions in Effect
Under Federal Control viii
Not Apply After July l..
NEW RULES CONFERENCES
Right to Organize and Right of Sen
iority Also Recognized by Deci-
.sion-Back Right to Organ
ize and Eight-Hour Day.

Chicago-Abrogation of the nation
al agreements, defining the working
conditions on all railroads of the coun-
try formerly under federal control
was ordered by the Railroad Labor
Board in a decision just issued.
The order of abrogation is effective
July l and in the meantime the of
ficers and system organizations of EN-
ployers of each carrier parties hereto
are called upon by the board ito con-
fer and decide so much of this dispute
relating to rules and working condi-
lions as it may be possible for them
to decide"
"Such conferences" the decision
continues, "shaIl begin at the earliest
possible date Such conferences Will
keep the board informed of final
agreements and disagreements to the
end that the board may know prior
to July 1, 1921, what portion of the
dispute has been decided.
N'The board reserves the right to
terminate its direction of decision No.
2 at an earlier date than July / with
regard to any class of employees of
any carrier if it shall have reason to
believe that such class of employees Is
unduly delaying the progress of nego-
tiations.
'"The board also reserves the right
to stay the termination of its direc-
ton to date beyond July 1, 1921, If
1T shall have reason to believe any
carrier is unduly delaying the progress
of the negotiations"
These two reservations by the board
were generally construed as a warn
Ing to both sides. If the carriers seem
TO be obstructing successful negotia-
tions, the penalty is continuance of
the national agreements to which they
object; If the employees are the of
tenders, the penalty will be to hasten
the abrogatiOn of the agreements.
''The board" continues the decision,
twill promulgate such rules as 1t de-
termines just and reasonable as after
July 1, 1921, as is reasonably possible
and will make them effective as of
July 1, 1921, and applicable to those
classes of employees of carriers, par
ties heretofore by whom rules have
been arrived at by agreement"
The decision, so members of the La
Dor Board indicated, meant that dis
.putes about rules and working condi-
tons were automatically referred back
30 conferences between each road and
dts employees. This plan was urged
by the railroads, while the labor lead
ers favored a national conference be-
tween representatives of all roads and
all unions.
AS n foundation for the rules to be
discussed in conference by executives
and employees a draft of sixteen prin-
ciples was issued by the board in con-
nection with its decision.
This set of principles deals first
with the obligation of both carriers
and employees to render adequate
service at economical cost and in
vokes spirit of cooperation to this
end. Next, the right Of railway man.
ayers TO preserve discipline by proper
rules and the right of employees to
organize are upheld. The principles
set forth the right of union men to
obtain the same consideration from
employers as non-union men get; on
the other hand, they decry the policy
of some unions in forcing workers to
Join.