The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-27
ARAILROAD STRIKE

SIhlhE ballot has been called for by the
"A leaders OF the railway Unions. These
readers appear absolutely certain as 10
what the result of that vote will be. They an
.pcipate overwhelming approval Of their threat
20 cali a strike on July I. The situation has
been as tense before aud has been COMPOSED
III rs To be hoped that the same result may now
occur.
i'd Future railway Strikes said James G..
DAVIS, present d%ireetor-genera Of railroads, the
OFFICIAL representative OF the federal govern
f5nent. will be directly against the orders or
r1huings OF The government, represented by the
ishailroad Labor Board. and are strikes against
n situation for which the corporations are not
responsible and which the corporations are
helpless to correct
As TO the responsibility of the railway cor.
porations and their helpleSsness there ia. of
course, some question. 1t would appear that
some OF the railway corporations al least have
heen as deliberate in their resistance to orders
nf the Railroad Labor Board with reference To
me contracting of repair work ns the employe
unions now APP ear to be about TO become as TO
Dsfss wage awards. The board has been as firm
with the one as with the other.
'-f- II is evident, however, that il a general rail.
road strike should develop as the outcome of
Afesistance TO the awards Of the Railroad Labor
Board, 1t will be, as Mr.. Davis has said. a strike
against the government.
A strike against the government IN a democ-
rhey IL, by every conceivable line OF reasoning.
nothing less than a strike against the public
and its paramount interests.
More than this, a strike OF railway employees.
Successful or unsuccessful, must be paid for by
the public. The facts in the impending situa-
,pon, therefore, are Of the utmost importance
10 the public which will bear an the expense
and all the inconvenience that would result
from a tie up of the nations transportation
system.
The Railroad Labor Board. a governmental
agency on which the public has equal represent
Ton with the railroads and the employees, il
empowered by the Transportation act 10 hear
and decide disputes between the railroads and
their employees over wage scales and working
conditions and in this particular TO determine
~ just and reasonable" wages for the various
r'elasses OF employees in the light of existing con
Sditions.
"a As TO the ability of the Railroad Labor Board
70 reach such decisions wisely and fairly when
working broadly with various classes of en-
'ployes IN various sections of a great nation
where living conditions and working conditions
vary more or less with every section, the
9sHerald entertains ome doubt. There is no
question, however, about the powers conferred
upon the Railroad Labor Board by the law Of
The United States.
=. This hoard spent months in hearing repre-.
,sentatiyes of the railroads, and Of the employees
1hn 10 what would constitute lust and reason
able wages under existing conditions. De
'intohn hhNt betH haHueu DOWN Dy the majority
s9n the board which cut the rates Of paw OF
several classes Of employees in varying amounts.
These decisions, as we understand il. were ap.
proved by all three of the public s representa-.
tives on the board.
IL is clear, therefore, that any strike action
which may be taken under the present arrange
ment must be in protest against rulings made
ibya lawfully erected governmental agency and
,concnrred in by the direct representatives Of
aille public.
Railroad labor leaders who now threaten 10
fall IA strike ia protest against these recent wage
reduction orders Of The labor board put the
hsituation blunily when they delivered an nlfi.
mainm TO that body which said
eafssWe hold without reservation that The board
"ahas made a thunder IN Interpretation Of the
a.iatent Of the Transportation act : - As the
ems1ter now stands there ~ no provision in the
law providing for an appeal Of any kind against
a decision Of your body. however mistaken or
unfair il may be. Your decisions have been
Submitted 10 a strike vote Of oar members and
wesarc awaiting the results of thr!S action.
Should our members decide not to accept your
areisions, or in other words, TO strike, we shall
'hapctiop their action
The Transportation act may not be and
pf5bably Is not q perfect law. The remedy
,Foulds seem 10 be 10 correct the law. il Il Is nm.
jar OF unjust ia Is operation not to disobey
}ke law. IN ifs operation y shown 10 BE- nm ind
II certainly viii D. ehanRed.
~ ia the meantime the critical situation that
<e~ns 10 i.nrend narrows down TO this, The
.~.Seslcral government. representing the public,
has deereed, after a thorough investigation,
tIat wages OF certain groups Of railway EN-.
,A.loecs should be reduced because Of the de-
'&f@ase IA Abe cost Of living and 70 . basis com
.z>sahle with The wages being paid for similar
work IN othcr industries. The labor leaders Of
the groups Of employees involved, have called
~. ..I ..4...IIU u,ti< malta IuofANfs rpioet IN,