Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-02
STATUS QUO ANTE BELLUM.

ne proposal submitted 10 railway SnOp strikers
and their employers by President Harding that "all
employees now on strike be returned to work and to
their former positions with seniority and other
rights unimpaired," together with the method pro-
posed for the treatment of other subjects connect
ed with the strike, amounts, in substance, to the
proposal that the whole situation revert to the con-
ditions which existed before the strike.
The injury which has resulted from the strike
cannot, of, course, be repaired. The worknen have
a months pay; the railroads have suffer
ed the Generalization caused by the breaking: up of
one section of their mechanical force; and the public
has suffered the loss and inconvenience which has
resulted from the cessation or interruption of serv-
ice. All Of that is dead loss. No combination of wis
dom and industry can make this as if it had not been.
But the relations of employers and employees are
to be resumed, according to the proposal just,where
they were broken off. The strike was called be-
findings of the labor board which provided for GER
tain wage reductions. The presidents plan calls for
the return of the men under the wage scale fixed by
the board Matters of wages and other points in
dispute are to be reviewed by the board when
proper application is made. Such review and re-
1t the men return to work under this plan they will
have to show as a result of tEeir walkout merely the
loss of a months wages.
The railroad managers, however, are unwilling
to permit the men tc return on those terms. Most
OF the terms they are willing to accept, but the stick
ing punt - tHc qucSUOH; OF SENIORITY. Under, the
rules which have been built up in railroad work the
workman acquires certain rights through length and
continuity of service. The old employe cannot be
discharged arbitrarily to make room for a new man,
nor can he be laid off in a dull time while a more re-
cent employe is retained, Employees are also pen
stoned in accordance with the length of their service
and it's continuity. 4 r.
These rules are the development Of years, and
in building them there has been cooperation be-
tween employees and employers. The former have
telt that there was a real advantage to them in
having some provision made for their maintenance
IN old age, and in being secure in their positions
while they were still active. The employers have
believed these rules to be advantageous to them in
building up a permanent and dependable force, and
tor this reason they have been willing to place a pre-.
MUM on long service and steady work.
The position taken BY the railway managers is
that to permit strikers who have failed to make good
any Of, their contentious, and who must therefore be
understood to have struck without adequate cause.
to return with all these special rights r1nimpaired
would be to violate the principle of the seniority and
pension regulations and to render them yalueless
They hold that when men leave their EMPLOYMENT
those who remain should automatically move I'D.
ward in the seniority list, with improved opportunity
for promotion and other advantages which accrue
and that men who have been employed in an emer-
gency created by the withdrawal of part of the force
should not be discharged or denoted whenever the
former employees choose to return.
The reported willingness of the strike leaders
to accept the terms suggested by the president in.
Dictated a willingness on their part.to abandon the
strike as a failure. The rejection Of the seniority
condition by the managers makes it certain tina,
ther are to be, other and further negotiations.