Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-08
FIVE RAILWAY
UNIONS AGREE
& TO CONFERENCE
Accept President Harding's
Suggestion To Settle
Disputes

Chicago, April Five railroad
labor unions with Q 10000 members
tonight submitted to President Hard
Ing lAbor's plan for ending industrial
disputes between the roads n their
workers. proposing that the president
call q conference of representatives
of both sides at which new rules gov
ernine working conditions would be
worked out to take the place of the
national agreements now in dispute
before the railroad labor board.
The proposal was contained in a
statement by representatives of the
ave mechanical unions and was sent
to the president by B.. Y. Jewell:
president Of the railway employees
ton Of Labor.
It proposed that all wage disputes
be held in allegiance pending the con-
Ference, holding that the matter Of
wages could be quickly adjusted to
the satisfaction of all as soon as the
question Of rules had been settled.
In Response to Request
The telegram was sent in response
to a request from President Harding
at a recent conference he held with
Mr.. Jewell that labor submit it's plan
kOG SnuIuS IHS allIoo0 'iIuSe' "a
troubles. 1t includes II points which
were termed "iabor's self evident and
tnalienable rights" which. it said,
would have to be settled at the pro
posed conference, and specified that
the national agreements should not
be discounted in n way pending
the outcome Of the proposed confer
ence.
II was suggested that the confer
ence be held under the jurisdiction
of the railroad labor board which
would have full authority over it.
Eight Hour Day.
Included in the IL points which
the unions said should be upheld
were the basic eight hour day, the
right of collective bargaining, the
right of each craft to decide what
organization should represent it In
any conference with employers and
adjustment of proper pay" for ov.
ertime work.
The statement in the telegram was
signed by ]. F. Anderson. vice presi-
dent International Association of
Machinists;;' Edward T~egtneyer, vice
president International Brotherhood
Of B~lacksmiths. Drop Forgers and
Helpers of America; William Atkin-
son, assistant president International
Brotherhood of B~oilermakers, Iron
GHlpUuAuoIS LIZ IACIpe4 "
ca; j. w. Burns, representing Anal
gamated Metal Workers Information
al Alliance; Edward j. Evans, repre-
senting International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, n Martin f.
Ryan. general president Brotherhood
Railway Carmen of America.
National and Local Rules.
The statement said that the unions
did not contend for continuation of
any rule which was not Just and that
1t would be easy to decide at the
proposed conference what rules
could be made national and what
matters would have to be settled 10.
cally.
Our present national agreement
provides the only safeguard for the
transportation industry against in
Justice and industrial welfare and
for this reaso it must not be dis
continued until at the conference ia
BILE an understanding has been had
by mutual agreement as to the fun
damental guarantee OF industrial jus.
we recognize. therefore, the follow.
"That a conference committee be
called composed of practical me
chanical department officials from,
each of the general managers dis
tricts to represent the carriers and ar
equal number of representatives Sc.
5lected by the employees to represent
the employees.
Just as u Foreigners in 177t
declared that certain principles o.
freedom we're so evident and inalien.
able, SO today u members hold 4ha'
the following principles are self-evi
dent and i~nalienable industria
rights: q
1.-THE right to organize and
negotiate collectively through
representatives OF their own
choosing.
'2-The protection of employ
es against discrimination because,
of membership in trade unions
or because of legitimate trade
union activities.
"3-The right of the majority
in each craft on each railroad to
determine what organization
shall represent them. this organ
ization to have the right to ne
gotiate an agreement which
craft.
"4-The right Of the majority
of zach craft on each railroad to
elect a committee or representa-
tives who shall handle all griev-
Ances which may arise affecting
all employees of the craft in ac-
cordance with the provisions of
the agreement.
"5-Eight hours as the recog-
nfged cas- of the standard
work day, payment for time
worked in excess of the. regular
eight hours at proper overtime
rates for the various classes Of
service required.
The beginning and ending of
working shifts to be SO arranged
rs to permit Of living arrange
nents by employees n their
families
's-Clear and CONCISE dedni-
the work to be performed by
mechanics and helpers.
ss9--The establishment Of an
premiership requirements 30 as
Il develop a sufficient number Of
cpmpetent mechanics.
"1O-Applicants for employment
Il, ~ mechanics TO show that they
have served an apprenticeship OF
four tyears,. or performed me-
ehantcs woKk for a similar pc
t4gsftDl, md not be denied employ
Hsont, when their services are
neDAed for any reason other than
t&odr inability to perform the
W0Tk for which they are making
S~nI1tcatfon.
aa1-craft point seniority to
~ fDcognaxed1
ss13-ThA. establishment of res
a1aeble safeguards for the pro-
HSf11 Gekton Of health and safety of
eI1lleyoa."
1TFt4&S1S5l &EL3t5i