The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-15
BOARD LAYS DOWN
 16 PRINCIPLES FOR
 RULESFOUNDAT|ON
Employees Called on to Send Representatives to Confer ence to Decide as Much
 of Dispute as Possible
By Associated Press

ments defining working conditions for employees on all American rail- roads formerly under the federal rail- road administration were today or- dered abrogated, effective July 1, 1921, by the United States railroad labor board.
 Tfse board called upon the offa-
 cers and system organizations of
 employees of ench railroad to se-
 lect representatives ito confer and to decideo much of the rules controversy as possible. "Such conferences shall begin at the =
 earliest possible date,s the aeci-
 sion said.
 While the decision did not specifi- cally say so, members of the board said that all disputes as to rules ana working conditions automatically were referred back to individual conferences between each individual road and it's employees. This method of procedure had been sought by the railroads. whereas the labor side had favored a national conference between represen- tatives of all roads and all unions. The decision affected all railroad en ployes, except those in train service. who are under separate agreements between the individual railroads and the big four brotherhoods.
 HEARING TO CONTINUE l In connection with the conference negotiations. the board laid down . set of 1s principles to serve as a foun- dalton for any rules which may be agreed to in the conference. The pres enl general rules hearing before the labor board which has been in prog ress since January 10, will continue until both sides have completed their testimony, following which the board will promulgate such rules as 1t de- ltermines just and reasonable as soon after July l. 1921, as is reasonably possible. and will make them effective as of July l. 1921"
 | The 16 principles outlined by tho board were drawn up by Henry |. Hunt of the public group, and upheld the right of the ~empioyes to organize for lawful purposes, the right to ne- l gotiate through epresentatives of their choosing, the right of ceniority l and the principle of the eight-hour 1 day. It was specified that eight i hours work must be given for eight hours pay" Espionage should not be practiced by either side, the decision said, and employees representatives should have the right to make an agreement applying to all employees in, the craft or class of the representa- tives
 The sixteen principles outlined were l as follows:
 PRINCIPLES OUTLINED
 T. An obligation rests upon man l agement, upon each organization of employees and upon each employe to render honest, efficient and economical ! service.
 "2. The spirit of cooperation be- tween management and employees be- ing essential to efficient operation, both i parties will so conduct themselves as 10 promote this spirit.
 "3 Management having the responsi- I blity for safe efficient and economical operation. the rules will not be sub 1 versive of necessary discipline.
 "A. The right of railway employees to organize for lawful objects shall not be denied, interfered with or obstructed. "5 The right of such lawful organi- I zation to act toward lawful objects | through representatives of it's own choice whether employees of q particu- lar carrier or otherwise, shall be agreed
 ;o by management.
 I ESPIONAGE BARRED
 "6. Nondiscriminaton shall be prac- 1 tieed by management as between mem- bers and nonmembers of organizations. or as between members of different or I ganizations, nor shall members of or ganizations discriminate against nom members or use other methods than I lawful persuasion to secure their men- libership. Espionage by carriers on the Legitimate activities of labor organiza-
 tions or by labor organizations on the legitimate activities of carriers should not be practiced.
 "7. The right of employees to be con-
 suited prior to decision of manages
 ment adversely affecting their wages CT working conditions shall be agreed
 to by management. This right of par s ticipation shall be deemed adequately
 complied with if and when the repre-
 sentatives of a majority of the em-
 ployes of each of the several classes
 directly affected shall have conferred
 with the management
 "8 No employe should be disciplined without fair hearing by designated officer of the carrier. Suspension in [ Eprorer cases, pending hearing, wf cf
 shall be prompt. shall not be deefu es& "a violation of this principle. At fe9- , soi able time prior to the hearing ' , is entitled to be apprised of the pres else charge against him. He shall hAva [, a presence of necessary witnesses, lrn
 shall have the right to be there rsF
 resented by counsel of his choos sg. lIf the judgment shall be in his ia cs, he shall be compensated for the wss*H Eloss if any suffered by him. | CLASSIFICATION NECESSARY @ Proper classification of eF 1 ployes and reasonable definition Of 'l the work to be done hy each class for which just and reasonable wages are to be paid is necessary. but shall not
 unduly Impose uneeonomical condi- ticns upon the carriers.
 "10. Regularity of hours or days
 during which the employe is to serve or to hold himself in readiness to serve is desirable
 '11 The principle of seniority long Iaprlied to the railroad service, is sound land should be adhered to- It should : be so applied ss not te cause undue , impairment Of the service.
 "12. The board approves the orinci- lples of the eight-hour day. but believes it should be limited to work requiring l practically continuous application dur |. ling eight hours For eight hours pay. t eight hours work should be performed , by alr railroad employees except en- : zine and train service employees, reg- : Iulated by the Adamson act. who arc