Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
LABOR ASKS RIGHTS
IN MERGER SYSTEM
Union Leaders to Present
Objections to Wilson Plan
for Traction Lines.

Representatives Of organized labor Of
the District, who have been on the side
lines. observing developments in the
transit merger proceedings. will un-
loose an attack ON the Harley r. Wilson
plan of consolidation before the Public
Utilities Commission tomorrow, when
hearings on the unitication agreement
are resumed after the weekend recess.
The position. of the union workers
with respect TO the proposed merger
will be explained by Arthur Sturgis and
w. Jett Iauck, economists employed
by the Amalgamated Association OF
Street and Electric Railway Employees
OF America. and Arthur c. Hayden.
chairman OF a special committee Of the
Central Labor Union. which has made
an exhaustive study of the unitication
agreement.
Hayden plans TO read into the record
of hearings statement OF detailed OBJ
iections 10 the proposed plan Of msr-
ger. which he has prepared In commune
ton with the research bureau Of the
American Federation Of Labor.
10 was Haydens intention 10 present
opposition 10 the merger plan from the
dual standpoint Of the citizens Of the
District and organized labor lie pro-
poses TO point out that the labor move
ment In the District. representing one
third OF Its population. IS not opposed
TO the principle OF merger. but that
1t does not approve Of the Wilson plan
Rights OF EmpIoyes.
Particular emphasis viii be placed
by Hayden OH the rights OF the en-
pleyes OF the proposed consolidated
company. and he will urge that y pro-
vision Tor voluntary arbitration be
written into the charter Of the new
company, 10 Is not compulsory arbi-
.ration provision that the union lead
ers will seek, but one that will insure
an effort at voluntary arbitration be-
fore strike IL called in the event of
. dispute between the proposed CONSOLE
dated company and Its employees The
arbitration clause of the Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric Rail-
way Employees viii be quoted by Hayden
In his statement In order To impress
upon The commission just what labor
means by voluntary arbitration. THIS
reads:
III two~thirds of the tun.onN men,
hsrship voting upon the question de-
eide IN favor Of suspending work. the
local deputy shall at once notify the
international president. The interna-
ttonal president. upon the receipt Of
such notice. shall proceed at once 10
the scene Of the dispute In petsan or
by deputy. and In conjunction with the
committee Of the local. shall make a
thorough investigation and attempt 10
settle The matter In dispute, In case
of failure thus IA secure a settlement
he shall then, In conjunction with the
leoel committee, prepare propositions
Ut arbitration defining the points IN
disp and the basis upon which they
shall he arhitrateo, II The company
refuses 10 accept arbitration AS ten-
dsred. the Mlerslattanal president or
his deputy shall then communicate with
the membership nj Tho general eS"
esutive hoard III writing uf by tele~
gram and obtain the consent ri a ma
lority Of the general executive board
before mdorslns the Strike,
Conference Held,
THE only development In the merger
situation Yesterday was n conference
between Ralph II, Flehavty. people =
counsel before the Public Utilities Conn
mission. and william A. Roberts. wha,
with William Nick. Clayton. Is seatiins
the fight against the merger nlar IN
Ito present form for organized cltiaens
ship vt the Instruct, The rnenuac ni
the conference. II was said, was to pre-
pare for the presentation Ut tneiv
arguments againat indofaament ny the
commission ot the merger agreement IA
II now stands,
Roberts and Fleharty both decided,
Il was said, 10 argae hstuge the conn
mission that the rv~Tauting and ether
details Of UNIFIED operation described
IN the testimony Ut = Rowland hinhinS.
engineer en,plased by Mf Wilson, .aa
he made effective Withaut n uar,N,rata
merger NJ the transit companies and
that The $aaI 900 estimated saving can
he brought about withou, a eonsoii,a-
ton,
The merger hearings hetore the pamv
miastnn are expected to conclude 1Nea4
day, but indications are that The ealMp
pan,aa viii be given al least 10 daNa III
which III submit briefs,
In the meantime the Stockholders nj
the Washington Railway and Electric
and tha Capital fraction companies
VIII meet 10 consider the agreement,