Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-28
HISTORY Of
RAIL DISPUTE

Chicago, ILL.,, Oct 27.-CBy The AS
ISOLATED Press)-Decision of the rail-
road labor board on July i authorizint,
Sailroads to reduce wages of their en-
ployes an average of 12k per cent WAS
the first event in the series which led
up to the orders for a general strike
by six unions.
When this decision was rendered n
majority of the rail unions began TAX
ing votes on its acceptance. In every
case, the union vote was overwhelm-
lngiy for strike rather than accept
a wage cut, altho on some lines not
aply the Pennsylvania, there were d.
visions where groups of workers voted
not to strike.
Taking of the ballot however de-
Veloped some signs of friction among
some unions
w. G. Lee, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen Withdrew
from a meeting of the four brother-
hood chiefs when other groups in
ciudeG in their ballots such questions
as fufes and working conditions. Mr.
Lee Held that it was Illegal to vote
on anything but the already author
iZed wage cut and sent. ballots to his
men IN which the wage cut was the
one mentioned. Leaders in the big four
orotherhoods - trainmen. conductors.
engineers and firemen-met in Chica.
go to decide what action should be
taken. On Oct. 10 it was announced
that the chiefs had decided to author
lie walk out beginning Oct. 40 and
extending progressively in four dis
tinct movements until every road
would be covered. The switchmen's
Union of North America Immediate
~ announced it would join the big
four.
The night of this announcement heads
OF virtually eleven Standard unions
the American Federation of Labor
group which is independent of the
herhoods-declared that they saw
nothing to do but obey the wishes of
their men and authorize them to walk
out with the brotherhoods and the
switchmen."
Some leaders of the eleven unions
were more conservative however and
later on one of them-B. NJ. Jewell,
president of the Railway Employees d.
partment, American Federation of La
Dor which is composed of the shop
cratts unions, announced he would
i1ght tooth and toenail to avert a
walkout by the eleven standard unions.
These groups called meetings of their
executive officers during the week
following the brotherhoods strike an
nouncement to take final action.
At this point however a few DAYS
after the big five strike call the labor
board stepped into the situation The
three members of its public group, who
had been summoned to Washington 10
confer with the president, announced
th'ii plhi " avert l1e Strlke-nO FUR
ther reduction of wages and immediate
reduction by the roads and acceptance
of the July 8 wage decrease by the
unions. Both roads and unions imme-
diately declared the plan impossible.
The board then called the union
chiefs into a conference at Chicago
and pending the conference the eleven
standard" unions dererred action
Nothing developed and it was be-
lieved that the government thru the
n lrI hDl fs f1nIt IL,
the strike.
The board then however. formaiIy
announced 1t assumed full jurisdictioG
over the rail crisis and ordered tho
unions not to strike pending a board
hearing to which the unions and this
roads We're CT ID to determine II the
transporta ton act had been violate
in the strike activities.
Executives of the shop crafts. repre-
senting 100000 men then announced
they would not authorize a walkout ex-
planning that they did not consider thr
time auspicious and that the brother
hoods had refused to agree to stand by
them thru strike. This was tho
until all of the eleven STANDARD
unions except the @ der of Railroad
Photographers had refused to authorizes
the strike. This left the big five and
the telegraphers with only one fourth
Of the nations rail employees alone In
heir plans for strike.
The labor board hearing was hels
Wednesday. 1t adjourned when the
unions at the instgation of the board
requested permission to confer with
the chairmen. These conferences wero
held today Some We're addressed by
Ben w. Hooper. public member OF the
board. who with walter McMan!rnen
labor member is given most of the
credit by board members by averting
tho strike. They lea up TO the big
ivo's'' final action.