The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1921-03-07
Brotherhoods Present
Their Case To Bugg
Continued from Page ~

vice in event your order reducing
wages continued. Approximately fiji
teen hundred employees voted on this
proposition. Before they had an op-
portunity to communicate this vote to
you, you suspended the ordtr reduc-
ing wages. 8
Disregard Labor Board
One would naturally assume that
the railroad being under the jurisdic-
ton aof the United States laws or
Federal Tribunal there would be prop
er regard and consideration of all Fed
eral laws and other Federal bodies
who are properly authorized and rec
ognized, under the laws to do certain
things but in this case there was
shown disregard and one might say
contempt for the decision of the
Labor Board because a notice was is
sued which put into effect the propos-
ed reduction and wtnt it little better
by declaring that common or unskilled
laborshould be paid such rates made
necessary by the conditions prevailing
in the different communities where it
is necessary to employ such common
or unskilled labor, and in addition
thereto, tht' immediate abrogation of
all contracts.
On March 1st the fourteen general
committees again conferred with you
with view of having you recind the
wage reduction order and comply
! with the orderly procedure as outlined
| by the Labor Board, with the result
you served notice on General Com
mites that all previous negotiations
regarding the controversy ceased to
exist, and therefore, you have put into
effect a reduction of wages which ac-
cording to your own statement before
the Labor Board is unjust and I'M
reasonable.
1t has been alleged that the rail-
way, is operated economically. At
this time we do not wish to take issue
with that statement, but certainly the
employees have right to know that
such is fact in case of this kind,
and therefore, it is thought that a
proper investigation might develop
some question as to whether the rail
road was operated economically.
Issue Ultimatum
In concluding this statement it is
the expressed wish of the employees
that you be informed that they are not
satisfied to remain in the service under
present conditions. The General
Committee haveing for some time
past exercised restraining influence
over the employees as long as it is
possible to do so, and therefore, they
will at once proceed to report the
situation to those interested, and as
the employees have already emphat-
icahy stated they cannot afford to con-
tinue in the service under the reduced
wages which you put into effect
March LIST, it is more than probable
that they will withdraw from the
service within the next twenty-foul
hours and remain thercfrom unit
such time as the proper tribunal may
have an opportunity to pass uponthe
business and reasonableness of the
rates of wages as established by the
I 7 IL
i Section 9 of an Act of Congress
providing for meditation, Cancellation
and arbitration in controversies be.
tween certain employers and their en-
ployees approved July l5,1o13, pro-
vides that no reduction of wages shall
be made by Receiver without author.
ity of the Court, after notice to the EN-.
ployees, said notice to be given moi
less than twenty days before the hear.
ing upon the Receivers petition OF
application. This section of the Fed
eral law also provides that the employ.
ees shall have tht right to Be heard
! through their representatives upon al
questions etfecting the terms and con,
ditions of their employment.
Road Violated Laws
| Your action in reducing the wage.
OF your employees, in our opinion
was in violation of the contracts be-
tween the Atlanta Birmingham and
Atlantic Railroad, violation of the
4 Transportation Act of 1920, and in vi
olation of the Federal law effective
| July Is, 1913, commonly known as the
Newlands Act. Further your action
in reducing the wages of the employ
ees without hearing through their
chosen representatives was in violation
| Of the universally recognized principal
Of collective bargaining,
| AS previously stated it is more than
probable that the employees as rep
resented by the fourteen general com
mittees will withdraw from the service
within the next twenty-four hours
| but if YOU can suggest anything tina,
n viii preclude such action we will GER
tainly DC glad to hear from you.s