New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-12
Seniority

liver to him personally the different
opinions which have developed
among them. 1t is TO be hoped that
they will lay the whole situation be-
fore him and that a just decision
upon AL the facts will be reached.
The most important matter, IN
qucstionably. is seniority.
On October %, 1921, the Railway
Labor Board declared in the Ann
Arbor Railroad Company case:
"The board further points out for
the consideration Of employees in
terested that when such action does
result in a strike the organization
30 acting has forfeited its rights
and the rights Of It's members in
and 20 the provisions. and benefits
Of all contracts heretofore existing
and the employees so striking have
voluntarily removed themselves
from the classes entitled 70 appeal
20 this board for relief and protee-
ton"
At the time the present strike was
called the chairman Of the Labor
Board made the following public
statement:
Upon one question the striking
employees should not be deceived.
Their leader has said that the strik-
ers are no longer employees Of the
railways, and they have thus auto
mstieally abandoned all the rights
they possessed under their agree
ments and under the decisions Of
the board. including their seniority.
This is not the boards action. II IS
their own.
MANY carriers are giving their
former employees the opportunity
70 re-enter the service within lin
tied time. II must be understood
now that men who remained in the
service and those who are now en-
tering II will have rights Of seniority
that the board could not ignore"
Immediately following the walk
out the railroads, with the approval
Of the Railroad Labor Board, prom
ised members Of the shop crafts re-
naming on duty and new men en-
tering the service priority, the full
est protection and permanency OF
employment.
The men who kept the transpor-
tation system moving were acting
on behalf Of the public. They re-
ceived definite pledges which should
be kept. 1t is difficult 10 see how
men who voluntarily gave up their
positions can now ask to have them
back at the expense Of those who
filed the vacancies which they ere
ated.
II these pledges are not kept much
more is involved than a breach Of
faith with individuals. II will mean
the deterioration Of railroad organ
izations. 1t will mean a lessened
faith in future promises. Every
foreman who tried to hold his men
in line wiz lose prestige if he cannot
make good on assurances which he
gave, and win in turn lose respect
for the superior who told him that
he was safe in making these prom
ises. II these strikers find they can
walk out for six weeks or more and
come back without having their rec
ord affected it will remove the in
centive for continuous service. 1t
will establish the precedent that
there is no penalty fer a strike based
on q refusal TO accept a decision Of
the Labor Board in an arbitration
which goes against them.
To the railroad worker the matter
Of seniority is Of great Importance.
1t means the first opportunity for a
more desirable job and a preference
when the force is being cut down.
While it is easy TO see why the
railroads felt they had no moral
ri;'' TO waive these privileges on
be. ? Of the loyal workers and new
me. IT is not easy to see how the
Labor Board could hand down a de-
cision against them.
The Tribune desires peace now,
49,