Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-14
NS't:.J.

ccdurc. which embraced handling this
matter on tho c. & o. Railway To n
further and Anal conclusion. June
% the management, was asked FOR a
conference prior TO July !. June 20
their reply was received. which
stated: Il cannot say just now when
! can 500 you" The request for "A
conference was renewed June 20. In
which NO asked that II be held prior
10 July !. or that tho wage decrease
hc held In abcyance until such con
ference took place. June 80 their re-
ply was received TO the effect that
the conference would not be granted
on or before July /. no date set for n
conference and that tho decision
would not be held up.
says No Answer Made.
We were then forced to treat tho
matter through correspondence, and
our letter OF June 30, which has par
TALLY been made public through the
press. was submitted to the manage
mcnt. July LIST we talked 10 tho
general manager on tho phone-thc
him--aud no promised an early reply.
However. M 10 July s no answer Of
any sor, had been made. nor any in
,imation had a. - tho intentions OF
the railway in r"spcc, :" either a
conference or nonappiica'!un Of the
waE~ d"Crras" in whole or IN part.
The afternoon ~ The s,h We
found IL necessary TO deliver another
lo,f nj lbs
Of some sor, bc made. and were ;hcn
called into tho genera! managers OF
fec for short and NOR. or less in
formal talk A. st5 l.. NJ. July :.
letter was received from the gen
"ral manager. which held GU, vcilcd
hope ;hat We might bc able TO 20,
together. 4 conference Was finally
arranged FOR $50 +. VI. July II, az
which the whole situation Was dis
Cusscd aud a. which Nc werc led to
behave tho railway was sincere in a
desire To settle tho matter eouitably
Tho genera! managers letter OF July
IL shows that II any such intention
ever really existed II has been on
'ircly abandoned by the railway.
Denies Contract Violation.
And yet II liz being clslmcd IN some
quarters thnt We have given the ran
way no notincation and tina, Rulc g.:
"f our agreement w!ll be violated
u there IS % strike. This rule reads .
Rates OF pay for employees named
herein viii be those mutually agreed
upon by the g. n o executive board
81 tho organization. party 10 this
rrecment. and tho Representatives
II tho company. or as authorized
by tho United states Railroad La Dor
Board"
Tho employees proposed this rule
and Il positively does not mean, or
cay, this IS an absolutely positive
agreement TO acccp, tho rates Of pay
authorized by tho United states Rail-
road Labor Roard" Were that tho
case, there would be no reason tor
and n" rurpos. served by that part
81 the rule down 10 company" which
specifically provides for agreement or
management rs TO wages, between
tho executive board and officers of
tho railway. The rule specifically
leaves the question OF wages open
TO mutual agreomen, between the
two sides. whether such WACO Is
higher. lower or tho Same as cstab-
ta!nly. there has been no mu,ua,
agreement in this matter.
In addition to this. Federal Judge
rage has ruled that the labor board
is merely an advisory body. and tho
labor board Itself. in the recent de-
cision. says II Is not mandatory on
the railways to put tho decision into
| effect
Alleged Violations cited.
Popularity. the railway has In
| numb"r!ess cases seen AZ to establish
| increases or decreases independent
| OF the labor board scales. Also. in
| APRIL Of this year they threatened
TO contract the handling Of freight
at Newport News ana Norfolk if We
declined 10 agree to lower wages
than tho labor board scale. our va
cations and sick leaves with pay. and
In many Instances the Saturdny
afternoon relief, were greatly eur.
| tailed and In eases eliminated
through an arbitrary ruling Of The
| management on t"chnicaliiy, and
| without advance notice nr confer.
cnce, as required by Tho agreement
and announced principles Of tho
| labor board. Innumerablc othc,
| violations can ~" cited
| We have mad" no statement os ,r
| doing whatever wc see 1T or as hay
inG given specific orders our law,
require that the final answer of Tho
| management be conveyed to our
membership and the employees af.
feoted for their final information and
ultimate decision. Tho necessary in.
structions have gone forth ana the
returns will soon be in. The over.
whelming sentiment already conyeyof
to us indicates the results tina, mirb,
be expected under such circum.
stances. regardless OF the obyioue
attempts to defca, the purpose Th,
decree OF tho membership and m,
employees will he put into effect n.
soon as known. which will be With,
few days.
Surely. there has been no fa.lnr,
on our part in the efforts put forth
compliance with the law. the term.
Of the agreement and tho require
ments of our brotherhood. On tn,
merits OF our procedure and the Just
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