Evening star., 1922-10-15
HOW IHE PENNSYLXANIA KEEPS IFS EMPLOYEES LOYA

by petition and must be signed by twenty-five quail
fed voters in each craft by Is cent OF the quail
fed voters in each craft Particular precautions are
taken to insure the election by secret ballot so as
to avoid undue interference or influence with the
voters Elections set for May of each year
The elected representatives Of each craft on each
division constitute the local committee for that craft
on that division They select their own chairman
Regional General Committee.
Next in line is the regional general committee,
which is composed Of general chairman, repre-
senting all crafts, together with a general craft
chairman from each of the respective crafts The
general chairman representing all crafts Is elected
for term of two years by the local committee
chairmen Of all crafts and the general craft chair
man IS elected for similar term by the local COM
mittee chairInen of that particular craft
The regional joint committee, which has the final
say in controversies relating to the shop crafts Is
composed Of the regional general committee repre-
senting the employees. and equal number of repre-
sentatves appointed by the management. The Chair
manship Of the regional Joint committee alternates
between employe and management representatives.
Under the operation Of the employe representation
plan monthly meetings held between each di-
vision superintendent and the local char7nen rep
resentng the engine and train service employees, at
which all controversial matters arising the di
vision may be taken up with five days advance no
tice Monthly meetings between the general chair
men and each general superintendent provided
for also. and similar meetings between each general
manager and the general chairmen. All controversial
matters which have not been disposed Of in these
various steps may be taken to the joint reviewing
committee, which also must hold monthly meetings.
The result OF the system has been to obtAin quick
action grievances and decision in regard to con-
troversies that have artsen-action that In the old
days might have been delayed for year two or
never obtained.
Origin of tho Plan.
have endeavored to tell briefly the principles
underlying the empoye representation plan and to
describe the machinery by which it operates How
the plan came to be adopted and how 1t has worked
ou. have important bearing on the whole subject
Before the world and the operation OF the
railroads by the federal government the Pennsyl-
vania railroad had recognized the brotherhoods of
engine and train service employees 1t dealt with
their committees representatives Of the men
There had been serious strike the road for
number Of years. During the period of federal con-
troll the organization OF other employees Of the
Pennsylvania in'o national and international unions
undertaken. 1t effective. The were
organized. Orders from Washington were to the
effect that the management Of the road should keep
hands of.
owners, therefore, the management Of the Pennsyl-
vania confronted with a vastly different labor
situation than when the road was taken over by the
government Pennsylvania officials say frankly that
they believe the best interests Of the public. the
employees and the road are served through direct
dealings between the employees of the road itself and
The management rather than through the officers OF
national labor organizations who may have con-
nection' whatever with the Pennsylvania systen
Had to Deal With Union.
But the road had been thoroughly organized as
for instance, the Of the shop crafts Further
more. the transportation act under which the gov