Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-01
?. R. R. AND MEN
MAKE PEACE PACT
Announcement Tells of Court of
Review, Making Strikes
Unnecessary
JOINT COMMITTEE PLANNED

Official announcement is made that q
working agreement between representa-
tivc3 Of the management of the Penn
sylvania Railroad and the employees has
been reached, which "should result in
elimination Of strikes to the extent that
it should never even be necessary to
take strike vote"
Conferences have been held in this
city and in Pittsburgh, and final de-
tails were settled upon at a meeting in
Pittsburgh The movement Is described
briefly as establishment Of court Of
review" for adjustment Of all matters
CT discipline and work.
Enginemen, conductors, firemen,
hostlers, trainmen and switchtenders
are the classes of employees who have
agreed with the management to peace
fully settle future questions. For this
purpose so o-called Joint reviewing
committee Of the Pennsylvania Rail
road will function. 1t will act as a
court of review for all grievances. rules
and working conditions. including dis
ciplinc, and through it the employees
involved will. for the first time in the
history of the railroad. have equal voice
and vote with the management.
The committee will be composed, on
behalf of the management, of two rep
resentatives from each Of the four re-
gions of the system, and, on behalf of
the employees, Of the general chairmen
Of the men in the engine and train serv-
ices. The votes of all members will be
of equal power, and not less than a
two thirds vote will be necessary to
reach a decision upon any question pre-
scented.
In all matters, except individual dis
cipline cases, the full committee will
vote. Its decisions will constitute prece-
dents, binding equally with respect to
similar existing or future cases, upon
the management and the employees in
all four regions.
Discipline cases will be handled some
what differently, as they involve per
sonal element. 1t has been decided that
when such case comes before the joint
reviewing committee. the two repre-
sentatives of the management in the
region in which the case arises, together
with the representatives of the employe
involved, shall not sit as members Of
the committee during consideration of
the case. but shall act as counsel for
the presentation of their respective
claims. The remaining members will
hear the case and determine the matter
at issue.
Inc work OF the JOINT reviewing coHi-
mittee will be supplemented by an ex-
tension Of and improvement upon the
methods Of handling differences and
grievances which were in effect prior to
the war. Each division superintendent
will have meeting once month with
the local chairmen Of the engine and
train service employees under his juris
diction, at which either side may pre-
sent matters for consideration. Each
general superintendent will have q
monthly meeting with the general chair
men, and the general manager of each
region will also hold monthly meetings
with the general chairmen.
Appeals may be taken in the order
named. and appeals from the decision
of general manager will be taken tc
the joint reviewing committee Of ths
system. Thus, in the final determine
ton Of any matter, the employees
through their representation upon the
| joint reviewing committee, will have
equal power with the officers in de.
| termining the issue. In this manner
the employees will participate in eacl
step in decisions affecting their persona
welfare and the conditions under whict
| they work