Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-10-10
R. R. Fraternity
MAKES DEFENSE
L. |. Kennedy Says Majority
of Pennsylvania Workers
Formed Shop Union
DECLARES MEN
ARE SATISFIED

expulsion from the United Brother
hood of Maintenance of Way EN-
ployes and Railway Shop Laborers
According TO news dispatches from
Detroit on October 6, Mr.. Kennedy
was charged with seeding from the
brotherhood and establishing an In
dependent organization.
Supported by a committee of nine
men Mr. Kennedy today issued a
statement in which it is brought out
that in July. 1920, the United States
Railroad Labor Board issued an or
der that the employees of each sys-
tenn division OF the railroads of the
country should confer with their
Arrangements with the purpose of
securing a system division agree
ment. The statement goes on to say
that L. /. Kennedy. general chair
main of the Pennsylvania System.
and subject to the mandates of the
Labor Board. went into conference
with the management of the Penn
sylvania System 10 secure an agree
ment for the men whom he repre-
scented.
The United Brotherhood Of Main
tenance Of Way Employees and Shop
Laborers on the Pennsylvania Sys-
TEN, at that time had a membership
Which had FALLEN to about 5000
men, and the Pennsylvania man
agement did not take advantage of
the situation. as they were not re-
quired by the Cummins-E sch Law
TO deal with an organization of any
kind unless the organization repre-
scented a majority.
The Pennsylvania management.
accordingly 10 the statement issued
a ballot to all employees In the main
tenance Of way department, TO af-
ford the men the opportunity OF
voting for the man of their choice,
the Brotherhood agreeing to the
action. This means that approx
mstely $4,000 men in the mainte-
nance of way deartment were vot-
ing. They comrised as divisions Of
the Pennsylvania System. each d.
vision electing three men as COM
mitteemen and each of these COM !
mittees electing a chairman for the |
respective divisions. These As chair
men, continues the statement, in |
turn elected a general chairman TO |
negotiate an agreement for the men \
of the maintenance OF way.
After the agreement was consum-
mated, and the men of the Pennsyl- |
vania System realizing that the
policies pursued by the old organ
ization were fundamentally wrong,
declares the statement because their
strength depended upon the power
Of a strike as a weapon. and because
the members were educated 10 place
no confidence in their superfors. and
realizing that this method could not
and should not exist, and that the
majority of the men on the Pennsyl-
vania System disagreed with these
policies. II was decided to call as
many men as possible to a conven-
ton to hear their views on the sub
ject, and II possible go along on a |
more sane basis.
In accordance with this decision /
all local lodge presidents. secretaries.
joint protective board members and 1
division chairmen OF the Pennsyl-
vania System were invited TO attend
a convention. , At the convention
1874 Of the executives mentioned an
swered the roll call.
Decision was made by these men,
declares the statement. after all
phases of the situations confronting
them were considered, 10 sever their
connections with the old organiza-
ton known as the United Brother
hood OF Maintenance Of Way EN-
ployes and Railway Shop Laborers.
II was also decided that they form
their own organization TO deal direct
with their own management.
This organization, known as the
Pennsylvania System Fraternity. was
organized on Nov. and s. 1921.
in Pittsburgh, by unanimous vote
OF all delegates present. Since that
time says the statement, results OBJ
tanned speak for themselves. /,
The Fraternity has secured a tri-
bunal known as a Joint Reviewing
Board, which gives direct repre-
sentation to the employees. This
board consists OF sixteen members.
eight employees and eight members
representing the management. This ]
board gives final decision on all ,
controversial matters. The Penn
sylvania System is the only System =,
in the United States that gives such
representation to it's employees.
Propaganda spread by the old
members of the United Brotherhood,
points out the statement, is the re-
suit of the loss OF revenue they
have sustained through the with
drawal OF the men from the Penn
sylvania System. This meant to be-
gin with. says the statement. ap-
proxlmately $4,000 a year for about
IT Of the officers OF the organization
and this includes only a small por-
ton OF the outlay.
The organization of the Pennsyl-
vania System Fraternity was brought
about by the entire membership.
The $4,000 employees voted for the
men of their choice and these men
assisted in negotiating the first
agreement, and these men voted to
organize the Fraternity.
I'VE personally feel" says the
statement. "that we have served the 4
men whom we represent in every re-
spect. and do not propose to let any
of the outside radical labor leaders
lead them astray. II there is any
more proof required at this time. we
refer any intelligent reader to the
moves that are now being made by
the OLD United Brotherhood. which
In convention at Detroit, is voting to
form The One Big Union"
In conclusion the statement points
out that the fraternity has the recog-
lition of the Pennsylvania System 6
an the press throughout the United e