Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-06
SATURDAY, NAY 6. 1922.
Railroad Labor Issues

r1IIE country may we'll look with some
fTconcern upon the possible develop
1,ents during the month OF May in the rela-
etions between employers and employees. Not
only does the nation wide coal strike enter
upon its second month, but railroad labor
-is-.becoming more and more FESTIVE, and
many or the more important of the brother
hood organizations will hold conventions to
consider the circumstances OF their position.
Already the Order of Railroad Condnc-
tors has convened in Cleveland. has the
Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers and Station En-
rpIpyes The latter body is sitting in Dallas.
s-0n May S. the Brotherhood OF Firemen
and Enginemen will meet in Houston and
on the same day the brotherhood OF Railway
Frainmeu will meet in Toronto.
u..These gatherings follow close upon the
recent ruling of Federal Judge Page, who
he1d that the Railroad Labor Board had no
authority TO censure the Pennsylvania Rail
road for disregard!ng the orders of tho
board, ruling which practically all or
ganiZed railway employees insist removes all
potency from the transportation act. IT APP
pears that the brotherhoods are correct in
their view that the board has been stripped
OF It's power and reduced to a mere advisory
body.
This decision. OF course, is not final 1t
will be carried on appeal 60 the United
States Supreme Court and may be reversed,
but II It should stand. railway employees
cannot be severely blamed If they. too, ig-
more a board which has no power 10 enforce
its rulings against employees. In any event,
il is unfortunate that the authority OF the
board should he challenged al so critical a
time as this, and frat challenge sustained by
a Federal court.
:. Nor has the situation been improved by
the decision of the board 10 allow outside
interests intervene in disputes between
the railroads and their employees These
,ouTFide interests assume TO represent the
public II is true, and the public should
have a voice in the settlement OF labor con
troversies in the transportation industry.
But the board Itself is supposed to repre-
sent the public, since the controlling group
within the boards membership was appoint
- ed for that purpose
lnteres: in railroad labor conventions is
further increased by the fact that during
the next TWO weeks simultaneous strike
votes will be taken by about 100000 me
chanical shop craft employees on all the rail
roads OF the United States. The first vote
deals with the pole" OF certain Of the rail-
ROADS in leasing their shops 10 private con
Germs. practice, according to the EN- ployes,
which permits the carriers 10 evade paymen,
of the wage schedule hxcd by the labor
board. The fna! vote is upon rejection of
the board decision limiting the overtime
pay for Sunday and holiday work.
Early in June the annual convention Of
THE American Federation OF Labor Will meet
in Cincinnati, and by that time the policies
- adopted by the railroad employees will be
= we'll understood Also there may lie some is
- sue IN the coal strike Public attention
. for the next few weeks win be conferred
= upon the action of labor interests and upon
y possible paralysis OF the transportation
K system Of tho country.