The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-01
EXPECT STRIKE
vOTETO BETAKEN
ON RULE DECISION
Six Railway Unions Directly
Affected by Federal Code.
Sweeping Changes Made in Ma
tiOnaI Agreement of 1920.
FOR EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY
Board Rules Shop Men May Go
Outside Their Lines.
Unions Have COntended Rules
More Important Than Wages.

Chicago, Dec. IA strike vote of
the unions affiliated with the railway
employees department of the American
Federation of Labor is expected to
follow the PRONUNCIATION today of a
complete new code of working rules
for shop employees of railroads by the
United States railway labor board.
Jewell Will Not Talk.
B. NJ. Jewell. president of the rail-
American Federation of Labor, re-
fused point blank to discuss the prob
able action of the unions. He said
the matter was a big question" that
required much study and intimated
that no action would be taken for
several days at least. Jewell refused
to answer questions regarding the
probability of a strike vote.
From other sources it was learned
the railroads regard the new working
rules as a new issue and that any pre-
vious strike action authorized by the
memberships would not apply to the
present situation.
Sweeping modification of the exist
ing national agreement, under which
the shopmen have been working since
the new agreement. Changes that are
considered certain to be regarded as
unfavorable by the unions are made
No statement of their plans have
come as yet from officials of the
unions. It is expected a conference
of union heads will be called at once
and a plan of action decided upon.
Makes Sweeping Changes.
The new code of rules makes scores
of sweeping changes in the national
agreement, and it is estimated by ex-
pert statisticians of the labor board,
will effect a saving of approximately
$5O,000,000 annually to the railroads.
1t affects at the present time about
400, 900 men.
Outstanding among the new rules is
one that provides for representation
of minOritieS in grievance cases.
This does away with the provision OF
the old national agreement that en-
forced the "closed shop In theory
at least, it establishes the 'open shop
principle on the railroads of the coun-
try. Opposition to the rule on the
part of the unions is considered GER
tain.
The principle of collective bargain
ing is recognized in the new rules as
in the transportation act
Greater efficiency and economy in
the operation of the railroad shops
is the effect aimed at in The rules in
a statement issued by the board I'm
portant instances of changes effected
are:
Machinists performing repairs may
connect or diScOnect any wiring, pipe
connection or coupling necessary to
repair machinery or equipment
Unskilled laborers may dismantle
wooden freight cars.
Engineers, firemen and cranesmen
| may make necessary repairs on the
lines of the road when qualified to
do so.
| Boilermakers' helpers may remove
or replace CRATES.
Classification of sheet metal work.
ers, electricians and carmen is widen
ed to assign much work heretofore
restricted to them to their helpers or
men of other crafts where needs of
! the road require it.
Wreclxing crews formerly restricted
| to carmen may be made up of other
men where there are not enough car
men available.
New Class of Apprentices.
A new class of apprentice known
as special apprentices" composed of
| youths from IS to &c years old, who
! nave had technical school training, is
esta blished.
In the old agreement restrictions
applied in each of the foregoing rules
and in many others, that the railroads
claimed imposed unnecessary burdens,
| financial and otherwise, upon them.
Under the new rules transfer of men
from one class of work to another is
permitted with far greater freedom.
One hundred and forty eight new
They became effective today. This
decision completes the work OF the
board with regard to working rules,
and paves the way for immediate con-
sideration of matters affecting the
wages of railroad employees. The de-
cision was by unanimous vote of the
board.
Unions affected by the decision are
the six shopcFafts organizations
Carmen, Sheet Metal Workers, Ma
chinists. Blacksmiths Boilermakers
and Electrical Workers. The so-called
big four brothe-hoods, the Tele-
graphers and the Maintenance of Way
Employees are not concerned with the
present rules, but operate under
separate code.
The shopcraft unions have con-
tended that the question of rules was
more important than the matter of
wages. Upon their acceptance or re-
lection of the new code hinges the
question of peace in railway labor
circles A new crisis is acute, as the
general strike which threa- ened on
october 80, last. may result should the
shopcrafts unions reject the new
agreement.