Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-03
Labor Union Proposal Shun-
ned, Negotiation With lndi.
viduaI Companies Urged.
BR0THERH00DS DECLARE
ATTITUDE Indifferent
Action With Each Carrier Is Held
Impractical-Dificultie Would
Be Intensified.

The railroads Of the country. acting
through the Association of Railway Elk
ecutives. have refused the request of
the organized railway employees for
a general conference to discuss
growing unemployment in the ranks
Of the rail workers, it was learned
today. The refusal has drawn q re-
Spouse that indicates general dissatis-
faction by the union forces with the
turn that the matter has taken.
This situation came into the open to-
day when it developed that the confer
ence here last week Of the Railway
Labor Executives Association had gone
on record as rejecting the suggestion Of
the carriers that the question be taken
up with the individual lines.
Reply Sharply Critical.
The reply to the rail executives is
known to have been sharply critical
and to have expressed the view that
they are taking an indifferent attitude
toward the problems Of labor in connec-
ton with the troubles with which the
railroad industry as whole IL con.
fronted.
It was brought out here at the bus
truck coordination hearings this past
Winter that the brotherhoods were
seeking q general conference with the
carriers to discuss their problems,
This movement came to O head In the
Spring, when the Railway Labor Tx.
ecutives' Association, representing 81
unions with a membership Of approx
mately 1900, 900, sent q letter to r. H.
Ashton, chairman Of the Association
Of Railway Executives, proposing such
meeting.
1t was suggested that this meeting
would discuss regulation Of other trans.
portation service, including highway.
waterway and pipe line carriage look
ing toward the elimination of unfair
competition" and unemployment.
Propose Relief Discussion.
In connection with the latter, the
unions propoEed to discuss relief meas
ures, including sterilization Of en-
ployment, and the shortening and re-
arrangement of the work day, with
minimum force Of employees This
would involve, in general, the six-hour
day and five-day week which the
brotherhoods have been agitating for
some time.
This letter also went forward TO the
individual carriers.
In reply, the unions were informed
that the Association Of Railway Execu-
tiveS docs not deal with labor matters
because Of the diversity Of conditions
throughout the country as regards labor
problems, and because of the technical
details connected with them, and that
is was the sentiment Of the railroads
that this question should be handled
| through customary misunderstanding
the individual lines.
Attention also was called to the re-
suits that had been obtained In
handling the unemployment situation
by independent action.
Reiterates Policy.
On the question Of competitive trans
portation agencies, the policy Of the
carriers was reiterated-that all they
seek is equality; that the public Is
, entitled to the best service at the low
| est reasonable cost. and that effective
coordination should be worked out II
| possible.
It was added that the chairman and
general counsel had been appointed as
! q medium of contact with the unions
| to facilitate cooperation.
This was the situation confronting
! the unions when they met here last
week, under the Craftsmanship Of D. b.
| Robertson, president of the Brother.
hood Of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen.
The best part of a day was given over
| to debate on the matter. and In the
| end it was made known that the union
forces would continue to work for Q
national conference.
Unions Disappointed.
The reaction Of the unions to the
stand of the carriers was characterized
as one of disappointment. It had been
anticipated, 1t was said. that the rail
executives would be willing to discuss
| competition, but even on this subject,
| 1t was added, the method Of negotia-
ton, with two representatives OF the
| executives, did not indicate the extent
of interest which the labor leaders had
hoped to arouse with their proposal for
| q national gathering.
| carriers that the question Of unem-
ployment be taken UP with the In
| dividual lines, the union leaders say
| that this Is not practical.
| Pointing out that there are many dr.
| ficulieS In way of solution, the brother
hoods said that these would be intensi-
fed II any railroad attempted to cops
with them regardless Of other systems.
Employer and employe before have ex-
perienced the difficulties Of establishing
any fundamental policy without COM
mon purpose and cooperation through
out the industry. 1t was added.
The unions are understood to have
informed the executives that In view
Of the present tmpasse, they can only
assume that the railroads are unwilling
! to deal In constructive way with
existing conditions, but hope they will
be brought to realization that COM
mon counsel Is necessary Ia the eEner-
gency. rf
They believe, It Is said, that proper
planning and foresight would do much