Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-20
THE NATIONAL
R. r. AGREEMENT
How It Was Made and Why

,
have criticized the so-called national
agreement, covering rules and work
inc conditions for railway employees
as one of the 'most disastrous nno-
yations" of the railroad admlnlstra-
ton under Federal control.
The facts, as revealed by the testl-
mony of Directors General McAdoo
and Hines and their associates, are:
l. Practically all the rules IN the
national agreement were IN force on
the great majority of roads before the
Government took over the lines. They
had been accepted as reasonable by
railroad officials after negotiations
with representatives Of the employees.
2. When the national agreement
was negotiated the Federal arilroad
administration was represented by
8 of the most prominenet railroad
presidents in the United States. Sure
~ these gentlemen did not overlook
the interests of the railroads.
3. The national agreement did not
establish a "closed shop" Under it
union and nonunion men were en-
ployed on terms of absolute equality
4. The national agreement was a
good thing from the Governments
point of view. The system has fully
justified ITSELF" is the testimony OF
both McAdoo and Hines.
Testifying before the Senate Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce, Feb
ruary /, 1922, William Gibbs McAdoo,
former director general of railroads,
declared that the national agree
ments gave to all railroad workers
rules and working conditions that
were enjoyed by large number Of
workers prior to Federal control"
In a report made to the President,
March l, 1920, Walker D. Hines, then
director general of railroads, said:
"Earious orders of the director
general have established reasonable
rules and working conditions, which
We're applicable in the very numerous
cases, where no rules and working
conditions had been established prior
to Federal control, and in some cases
the rules and working conditions es-
tablished by the director general have,
by agreement, become a substitute for
those which prevailed by agreement
prior to Federal control.
"The system has fully justified
itself, and it is only question Of
time and mutual understanding when
local incidents of discouraging char
acter will disappear"
Mr.. Hines testified that the national
agreement eliminated friction betwc
the managers and employees in the
most gratifying manner, which was
the prime object sought when it was
promulgated. He said:
at is an interesting commentary
that on some Of the largest railroads
in the country, with the strongest and
most effective arrangements, not a
single case has come to one on more
of these boards of adjustment.
"The principle Of collective bargain
ing has been further recognized in
the making Of national agreements
between the director general and cor
tain organizations Of railroad en-
ployes, such agreements to remain
operative during Federal control, sub
iect to modification as provided in the
agreements.
early in the railroad administra-
ton it was declared that no discrim-
ination will be made in the employ
ment, retention or conditions of en-
ployment of employees because of
membership or nonmembershlp IN Ia
Dor organizations No employee is
required to join an organization or IS
prohibited from joining an organiza-
ton. The employees who are not mem
bers Of organizations have the benefit
of the same working conditions as
those who are members. Nonmcm-
bers have the right to representation
by officers of the organization just
as members have in matters before the
boards of adjustment.
"The policy thus carried out has
been in accordance with the policy
which the railroads generally adhered
to long prior to Federal control with
respect to the trainmcn and engineers
and yardmen. Practically every rail
road had agreements with the four or
CARNATIONS of trainmen and engine
men or 'brotherhoods.'
"Thase agreements did rot establish
the closed shop, and the companies
were free to and did employ new men
without any reference to membership
in the organizations"
The charge that the railroad admin
istration fostcG something new upon
the railroads is not sustained by the
facts.
Mr.. McAdoo confirmed Mr.. Hines
statement that practically every first
class railroad in the country had SIM
liar agrccrnts with the organization
of train service employees and that l42
roads prior to Federal control had
maintained agreements with the shop
crafts.
The only purpose OF the railroad
administration, Mr.. McAdoo declared,
was TO extend to ali employees rules
and working conditions that gov
erencd majority Of workers in the
railroad industry.
In his testimony before the Senate
committee, Mr.. McAdoo said:
"Practically all Of the railroads
under Federal control had in existence
agreements with the four brother
hoods-thc Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Engineers, Order OF Railway
Conductors, Brotherhood of Railway