Evening star., 1921-12-01
BY the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, December Economics
in operation and increased efficiency,
estimated to reach $50,OOO,000 year.
and recognition of the "open shop" on
all American railroads were fore
casted last night in the PRONUNCIATION
of revised working rules governing
railroad shop employees by the United
s. tes Railroad Labor Board.
T.e new rules become effective to-
day, and take jurisdiction over ap-
proximately 100000 men Immediately.
although a still larger number will
be affected when the normal traffic
conditions are restored.
Far-reaching changes in the rules.
which supplant the national agree
ment made during federal control.
were designed to afford basis for
permanent stability in the railroad
shops Of the country, and were de-
clared by members of the labor board
done by the board and of much
greater significance than any. deci-
sion in the past, even including wage
scale adjustments.
Large Economies Expected.
Large economies are expected to
result from revision of the classifica-
ton rules. which were made more
! elastic. and hereafter will permit
members of certain crafts to do minor
jobs previously done by members of
other crafts. Statisticians attached to
| the labor board estimated that econ
| omies in operation. increased effici-
ency and larger output would approx
innate $50.000.000 a year.
Provision for the representation OF
| minorities who may have grievances
is another important item of the new
rules. Under the national agreement.
negotiation for employees was placed
almost wholly in the hands of labor
organizations, with the result that
the railroads and many industrial and
civic institutions declared that the
agreement forced a closed union shop
on the roads. Non-union men found
it impracticable to attempt to bring
their grievances before the board. and.
handled the cases, taking their prec-
edent from the national agreement
negotiations, in which union officials
acted for the employees in drawing up
the agreement under federal control.
THE principle of the open shop.
established by the new rules" state
ment by board members said. will. in
| fact, be more theoretical than prac-
tical at the present time, since large
majority of the railroad shops are
! unionized and the existing unions are
recognized by the board and by the
l
| of the majority.
Older Rules Preserved.
Most of the older working rules,
sanctioned by the experience of years.
are preserved in full effect. Many of
| the more rigid rules. however, were
considerably relaxed in favor of the
roads. although the recognized rights
of the men are fully protected and
| the principle of collective bargaining
@v,l is rot a in ah
contemplated by the transportation
act"
The rules controversy dates back
| to May /, 1920, when the railroads
| emerged from government control
Strenuous objections to the national
! which began January 10, 1921. After
several months of testimony. the
rules were referred back to the indi-
| vidual roads with instructions to
negotiate such new rules as they
| could with their employees to replace
| the federal government rules.
Numerous rules were thus agreed
upon on Individual roads. but on no
road was it possible to draft an en-
tire new set. The rules disagreed
| upon were then sent back to the
| labor board, and the rules promul-
| rules not agreed upon by the roads
and their employees. In any case
| where a rule has been agreed upon
| by the carrier and its employees. that
rule governs. even though the labor
| board rule may be entirely different.
Shop Work Classified.
The majority Of the changes ef-
fected by the new rules is in the
classification of the work to be per-
formed by the various crafts. Almost
without exception. these classifica
tions are made more elastic. Under
previous agreements with the shop
crafts, including the national agree
ment, it has been the custom to de-
fine in detail the various types of
work belonging to each craft.
The carriers have complained that
the national agreement set up in such
minute detail the classification of
duties that work not requiring spe-
cialized skill in any craft was as
signed exclusively to a particular
craft. For example, work not re-
quiring a mechanics skill was as
signed to a skilled mechanic. thus
making efficient and economical op-
Grafton impossible, according to the
railroads.
The rules effective today broaden
the scope of each crafts work. The
machinist working on running re-
pairs may connect or disconnect any