The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-19
SHOP CRAFT UNIONS
VOTE TO WALK OUT
Will Defer Action Until PrOmul-
CATION of Working Rules
Now Pending.
(Hy The Associated Pres !,


CHICAGO, Sept. 1s.-Railroad shopmen
belonging to the six federated shop crafts
unions have voted to strike against the
general railroad wage reduction Of July /,
1921, but win defer action until the pro
mitigation OF working rules now pending
before the United States railroad labor
board when another vote viii be taken on
acceptance or rejection of the rules.
This announcement was officially made
by B. NJ. Jewell, head of the shop crafts
organizations at mass meeting Of Chi
cago shop workers today.
Belief that a stronger fight could be
ysIsade il a strike is called, With preserva-
tion of the shipments working rules as
one of the goals, led to the decision to
withhold a strike call for the present,
Mr. Jewell said. He and other union
speakers counselled the men to wait until
the entire wage and rules situation was
before them, rather than rush into
strike which Mr.. Jewell declared the rail-
road management desired.
We can make a real fight on the rules
proposition when we might not have the
full support OF other branches Of railway
employees on a wage fight alone,'' Mr..
Jewell said. IF we want to protect our
best interests, we must wait until the
time is opportune. But if the labor board
releases all the remaining rules to be
acted upon at one time, then we will
have the whole matter before us we
win need only one vote to accept or
reject the rules to determine what
viii be DONE
This announcement was greeted with
applause and Questioners jumped up in
all parts of the hall to press for further
details. Answering one question, Mr..
Jewell asserted that the shop crafts would
have the cooperation of other organiza-
tions, including the big Four brother
hoods, IL strike were called and urged
his audience to prepare for action.
The strike vote. completed August /,
was announced as showing constitu-
tional majority against the wage reduc-
ton which went into effect July /. This
was the first official confirmation OF
result which has been rumored for. some
time. Condemnation of the operations OF
the labor board and of its decisions was
voiced by all speakers at the meeting
Mr.. Jewell charged that the railroads
were attempting to use the board to take
an unfair advantage of the Industrial sit
uation. The boards method of drafting
rules to supplant the national agreement.
war time measure, under which the
employees. work at present, was asserted
to be Impractical because only seven of
the 1856 rules have been substituted.
Mr.. Jewell said he would demand of the
board that "for once, 1t meet situation
in a practical way and announce the re-
naming rules simultaneously, instead of
piecemeaL
when the board announces the sub
stitute rules, our committee viii take a
bollot." Mr.. Jewell said. 'If the rules are
not satisfactory and the ballot says so.
we win take the result to the railroads.
II they refuse to grant our reasonable de-
mands. they viii have to stand responsible
and answer to the American people"
n. P. Good, chairman Of the Pennsyl-
vania system Federation of shop Crafts.
said he thought that the Pennsylvania
had been selected to make a fight for
the open shop as the first step in such an
agreement on all railroads Condemna-
tion Of the piece work system was made
by Edward Tegtmeyer, ce-president Of
the blacksmith's union. who said the at
tempt Of the roads to reinstate piece work
was an aggravation to strike.
THE railroads have been expecting us
to strike" he said. 'eThey want us to
strike so they can put as out of business.
We want your suggestions and advice and
when the time comes. tie your hats on:
we're going down the line and going all
the way
General charges that the railroads were
opposing demands Of the unions as part
of a movement which President Jewell
said. was backed by nine billion dollars
or more" we're made. The OBJECT. he
said. was 'sto crush organized labor. He
cited alleged unfair action by the rail-
roads n offering to negotiate rules on
each individual road and then failing to
agree. Only five agreements had been
completed among the 320 carriers on
which substitute rules were to be drafted.