The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-04

ITO all employees and former eni- ployes members of the affiliated or ganization composing what is known as the Federated Shop Crafts and to Railway shop Laborers, and Statlon- ary Bremen and Oilers,
 AS you know, a large number Of tho employees of this company, rep resented by the so-ca1led Federated Shop Crafts, and also certain rail- way shop Iaborers. stationary fire- men and oilers, left the service Of the company at 10 o'clock I. m July |. 1922, and subsequent thereto under strike ordera issued presum- ably in accordance with the provi- sions of the constitution and by- laws of the organizations composing the federated crafts and stationary firemen and oilers. Inquiries have been made by some of those remain Ing in the service and by many others who left the service on July 1. but now desire to re-enter the com panys service. as to their standing with the company, hence this state ment.
 T. At the outset, l desire to ex- press for and in behalf of the com pany its grateful appreciation of the loyalty of the large number of eni- xployes heretofore represented by the Organizations in question who have remained in it's service. I wish to as- sure them that their rights will be fully preserved and that they will be given every practical protection in the performance of their duties
 Many Desire to Return
 "2. Of those who left the com pany's service pursuant to these strike orders, the company realizes that there were many who took such action against their wish and better Judgment and 1t has been uniformed that large number of such men de- sire to re-enter the service and arc anxious to ascertain whether or not their seniority and other rights possessed by them at the time they left the service would be restored should they re-enter the service
 .'f'he position of the company
 Is that those who left It's nerv-
 ice have terminated their em-
 pIoyment and forfeited niI senior
 ity md rights, including pension
 rights under the cOmpnny's vol
 untary pension system, hut that
 any former empIoye who desires
 to re-enter the service will not
 be subjected to such loss of
 rights, provided he does SO not
 later than o'clock n. m.. July
 6, 1922. Any former empIoye re-
 entering the service, nfter that
 time will do 50 ns new employe
 with rights inferior to all other
 in the service nt the time he so
 re-enters,
 5. To new employees who shall enter the service since July 1, and to former employees who shall re-en.er the service the company likewise sx- tends the assurance of regular .m- ployment, under the wage rate and working conditions prescribed by .he Jnited-States railroad labor board, and of every practicable protection in the performance of their duties.
 Not Merely Against Road
 4. I ask those who for any reason left the service on July 1 and sub sequent thereto to bear in mind the fact that the strike action they have taken is not merely against the ra;l- road. It is primarily strike against the findings of a tribunal established by the Congress of the United States to decide disputes between railroad companies and their employees. so that there would be no occasion for a resort to strike--hence. the action you have taken is a strike against the government itself.
 T as kyou to keep in mind the fur
 
 Nashville Railroad company has ac- cepted and put into effect all the decisions of the United States raiI- road labor board, the tribunal against whose decisions you have been called upon to strike. Moth withstandl1is those decisions have not been wholly satisfactory to it any more than its decisions have been wholly satis- factory to you. The problem you have to decide involves these questions. Do you prefer loyalty to the railroad company. which has always treated you fairy. loyalty to the public which must have an efficient traps- portation service. loyalty to the United States railroad labor board, a governmental tribunal established ] for your own protection, and loyalty to your own interest and that of your families who are so vltally con- cerned in your steady employment and the preservation of your rights Or do you prefer to follow the dic- tatcs of an organization which has now been declared by the United States railroad labor board to be m outlaw and outside the benefits oe the existing railroad labor legisla ton? Yours very truly.
 "G. E. EVANS Vice President"