The New York herald., 1921-08-01
PA. R. R. EMPLOYEES
GET NEW ELECTION
Railroad Labor Board Sets
Aside Roads Rules on Work
ing Conditions.
Bv the Associated Press.

CHICAGO. July 31.-Declaring elec-
tions of employees committees held by
the Pennsylvania Railroad and by the
Pennsylvania Shop Crafts Unions IL
legal and void, the United States Rail-
road Labor Board to-day issued de-
cision ordering a new ballot to select a
committee on negotiation OF rules COW
ering working conditions to replace
the national agreements established
during Federal control.
The decision also cancelled rules now
in force as a result of agreements
reached by the railroad with the COM
mittee elected on the Pennsylvania
ballot.
The Shop Crafts Unions are fully rec
ognized in the boards decision, although
non-union men were declared to have
full and equal rights. In form ballot
drafted for use In the new election en-
pioyees are to have their choice of rep
resentation by the Pennsylvania system
federation. affiliated with the railway
employees department of the American
Federation of Labor, the American Fed
Grafton of Railroad Workers. or by any
other organization or individual for
whom a majority vote is cast.
Dodges Open Shop Question.
The Labor Board refused to be drawn
into discussion of the open shop. for
which the Pennsylvania has openly con-
tended. 1t was on this principle that
the railroad refused recently to recog-
nize the unions claims to representation
of the majority Of shop employees, and
proceeded to hold a general election.
The board, however, said the dispute
which arose over the unions claim was
merely one of procedure"
Neither the Pennsylvania General
election nor ballot conducted by the
system federation was fair or legal, the
board said, and the employees conse-
quently have been denied their legal
right to select representatives for this
important conference on rules"
The boards decision declared the dis
pute one Of technicalities adding that
''at a time when the nation is slowly
and painfully progressing through the
conditions OF Industrial depression, un-
employment and unrest, 1t is almost
reasonable for any employer or en-
ployee to stubbornly haggle over non
essentials at the risk Of social chaos"
on or before August 10 between repre-
serAatives of the road the Pennsylvania
system federation or any other organiza-
tion having shop crafts members and
established to function as a labor or
ganization, as set forth in the transpor-
tation act, and any other representative
carrying the signed authorization OF 100
unorganized employees.
To Decide Election Methods.
This conference Is to determine the
method of holding the new election and
the general committee also will have
charge Of the election.
The dispute, as the Labor Board
viewed II was entirely one of who should
represent the employees. Tho transpor-
tation act however. does not prescribe
the method by which employees shall
select their represen tatives, and both
parties correctly concluded that an cleo
tion by ballot would be necessary" the
decision said. There the dispute arose.
'"The carrier had no more right TO un-
dertake to assume control of the selec-
ton Of representatives OF the employees
than the employees would have had In
supervising the naming of the carrier
representatives" the decision said. In
this sophisticated land of popular cleo
tions. no political party would submit to
having Its primary held and managed by
Tire opposing party"
The Pullman Company recently was
involved in a similar dispute. and after
holding a general election. disregarding
the unions, was ordered by the board to
negotiate with the union committee.
The Pennsylvania. however. gets the op-
portunity Of a new election by which It
is expected both union and non-union
employees will be satisfied