The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-04-19
Abrogation of
National Agreements

III fhto ilhnthl
The action of the railroad labor
board IN abrorntinE the nationl agree
mcnts covering conditions on the rail-
roads OF the United states uppcars 10
be satisfactory "a all save a few OF
the more radical leaders among the
labor union element. The folly Of
attempting to enforce a set OF rules
applicable 20 the entire county has
been generally recognised. The com
try y 81 vast and conditions vary 70
widely IN different sections that rules
that would be- just and proper In one
section or on n railroad or group
Of railroads would be wholly unsaiis-
factory on another.
The decision to call upon the re-
representatives. Of the employees and the
officials 10 meet In conference TOT
the drafting OF rules to cover work.
ing conditions ON the individual rail-
road systems Is the proper one. o
the result Of the work ~ these COM
~fercnccs should 40 a long way toward
Relieving intolcrable conditions which
have been largely responsible for the
present plight 10 which the railroads
have been reduced az "A result OF the
in-couEidercd experiments In nerf
socialism i~nnugurated during u per
Tod - government control
Tho 16 principles outlined 10y the
board and upon which the now IN
dividual road agreements are TO be
based appear fair and Just, The right
Of Organization aud collective bar
gaining a. recognized. ns is also ~"
ciEht-hour DAY. the latter with tho
important proiso that Tight hours
work must De- gwen for ciEht huutf
puy. The rights Of employee who arc
not members or inbor organizations
are Also safeEuBrdcd. for ~ u pro-
yidcd there shall De- mo- discrimination
as between members and non-mom-
bcrs OF labor unions Provision o
made for the protection of the health
and safety Of employees ana Tor guard
Ing them against oppression az the
hands OF their supcriors, this by The
specific provision that iu all cases Of
suspension or discharge the accused
empiuyo shall DE- entitled TO O. speedy
and fair hearing and pay FOR time lost
In event suspension or discharge u
found 20 Dee unjust.
Especially important ~ the provis-
ion tor proper classification OF en-
ploycs and reasonable definition OF
the work 20 he done hv ouch class ao
thar uuduly uneconumicai conditions
shall not be imposed upon she car
rifra Unreasonable construction OF
tho regulations covering this point
was one OF the serious faults OF the
old national agreements Rogulutlons
were so constructed that often when
there was "a 2o-minutr emergency jon
To De performed b. would bo uoc'H-
siry Co cail in three or % different
craftsmen aud To pay each OF them
a days pay FOR their part 81 the WORK
on "a task that could have been done
in less time nY onc handy man en-
plosed Tor the purpose.
The docision. which bcccines effet-
tive july I. unless otherwise ordered.
o. the second momcntouH pronuunce-
mcnt OF the railroad labor board. The
| other cauc last July when b board
awarded "a $500. 900. 900 wage Increase
to tno employee under les Jurisdiction
/ This decision BE- hns been estimated
/ cost tho curriers' closU Co 81 nh1,VNh
/ 600. owing 10 their being forced "a
raise pas Of employees not covered bs
tho agreements iu order 10 Keep phc,
with those that were. This thousand
million dollars b. now being borne b,
thr public boz the form of increased
freight and passenger rates uud also
ln some MEASURE. hy the employees ~
tho form of "a %lussoning oi employ.
mrut due 20 the fulhug of 81 train
brought about hy the increased rates