Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-08

z.-A--- 81 lh
ton which is being supplied by our gpvernmehtlt
those who are interested in the production, con
sumption and prices Of foodstuffsf around the world
WHAT SENIORITY MEANS.
.#7 The Herald's attention has been called to TIL
tact that III some quarters there is confusion as t
ust what is involved in the dispute over seniority il
railroad work. There arc those who think that th
railroad managers insist on abandoning all seniorit,
regulations in all departments. of/thcir work. ahs
Others who think that it is their purpose to abandon
seniority entirely III SO, far as it applies to the shot
crafts. Neither benef is correct.
*For-n1any YearsrailWay employees have enjoyee
certain privileges, accorded to them because o
length and regularity OF service. The rules in fore,
on the several roads were haImonized and promul
gated as general rules by the United States Rail
way Labor board on November %, 1921. The gen
eral principle is that those who have served longes
in the continuous employ of a railroad shall stane
at the head Of the list in the order of their length
OF service, and in this position have first callof
promotions, desirable transfers and continuous en-,
ployment. The chief provisions are, -.
"RULEs ~. Employees serving on night
shifts desiring day workshall have preference
Whenvacaneics occur, according to their senior
'ty;
RULE, is. When new jobs are created or
+ DNdSdhCieS OCCUR III inc respective CfaftS, the Old
est employees in point of service shall, if suffi-
ent ability is shown, by trial, be given preference
in filling such new jobs or any vacancies that
may be desirable to them.
RULE p. When it becomes necessary to
reduce expenses, the hours may be reduced to
forty .(4o) per week before reducing the force.
: When the force is reduced, seniority as per rule
81 will govern**** T.. +
in the restoration of forces, senior laid-off
men will be given preference in returning to
service, if available within a reasonable time,
and shall be returned to their former positions
"RULE 49,. When reducing forces, if rne,
are needed at any other point, they will be given
! preference to transfer to nearest point, with
privilege of returning to nome station when
force is increased, such, transfer to be made (
without expense to the company. Seniority to
govern all cases" N.1
NJ From the above rules it is clear that the err,
ployes whose names stande toward the head Of t,e
lists of their class have, by feasor1 of that seniority
these valuable privileges: = =
L.. Choice Of the Opportunity of shifting
from night work to day work.
2. Choice Of desirable vacancies or new
jobs when created. 4
3. In the case Of Production of forces. ,ass,,r-
ancc that they will be the last to be laid off, and
the first to be taken on, when forces are in.
creased. +
4. When forces are being reduced at one
point ana maintained or increased at ANOTHER
point, the opportunity Of filing the vacancies at
the other point temporarily without losing their
rights at their regular place Of employment
There is no contention on the part of railwa,
arrangements anywhere that these rules should BE-
abandoned. either in whole or in part. On the con.
trary, it is the contention of the railway people that
the restoration of the striking shopmen now, with
seniority rights unirnpaired, would be a violation
OF the whole principle of seniority, and a contravcn.
ton OF the orders of the labor board. .
The situation may be summed up as follows:
Employees in large numbers left their employ.
ment. to the embarrassment Of their employers and
of the public. Other men, in some cases juniors
in point of service and position, remained at work
1t is held that those who remained at work should
have the advantage of the operation of the seniority
rules, and that the return of former employees should
not force them into lower Positions than are, theirs
of right. %<*
: Still further, new men have been employed. Ii
is held that these new men are entitled to retain
their position on the seniority scale, and are not to
be disturbed by the return of men who have absent,
ed themselves.
Promises to this effect were made to both old
employees and new men. To restore the seniority
of the strikers would be to violate the pledges thu
made, -
The railroad people insist that the seniority
rules as promulgated by the board shall stand un.
changed and uniinpaired and shall apply equally To
all employees. The strikers demand that they shall
arbitrarily be changed in their favor.
HOW ABOUT TIP
The Fargo league sorgan in announcing thu
acceptance OF Frazier as the party nominee for the
senate by the Republican national organization in.
forms its readers also that the-organization will not
countenance the candidacy Of congressional can.
didatcs in opposition to Burtness of the First dis.