Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-03
RAIL UNIONS SEEK
WAGE CONFERENCE
Way Opened to Roads for
Discussions Involving FL
nanCiaI Difficulties.
Continued From First Page)

amount Of available employment have
been reduced severely; and
Whereas proposals affecting railway
wages have been made public by sew
eral Of the railroads and are known to
be under consideration By others and
Whereas the employees of all the
railroads face the urgent need for the
adoption Of measures which may pro-
vide not only temporary relief but as
surances of future stabilizaticn of en-
ployment and relief from continuing
reductions of employment and cyclical
periods Of grave unemployment; and
Whereas both the arrangements of
the railroad systems and their en-
ployes are organized so that they are
able 10 deal nationally with problems
and emergencies affecting the entire
transportation industry, ans these or
CARNATIONS have a responsibility not
only to their membership but to the
public to act in concert to work out
prompt and adequate solutions Of their
conflicting interests in order to promote
the general welfare and to do all in
their power TO aid in the restoration Of
prosperity; therefore, be II
RESOLVED, That the chairman of this
association transmit copy of this reso-
luton TO the Association Of Railway
Executives and endeavor to arrange a
conference between the appropriate rep
resentatives of said association and the
members Of the Railway Labor Execu-
tives' Association for the purpose Of
considering and recommending to the
respective associations action regarding
ID any proposals affecting railway OPP
Grafton which railway arrangements de-
sire to advance; 90 any proposals. in
GLIDING present and future relief OF
unemployment and sterilization of en-
ployment which this association desires
to advance"
Previously Proposed.
The labor leaders for the past year
have been attempting to get the rail-
road executives around a table for dis
cuSsion Of their mutual problems.
Several months ago they proposed
that the executives meet with them to
take up unemployment and regulation
OF competitive forms of transportation
highway and water carriers ana pipe
hnes-for which the roads themselves
are seeking restrictions The proposal
was made to the Association of Rail-
way Executives and the individual car
rierS themselves informed of the de-
sires Of the workers.
In reply the unions were informed
that the Association of Railway EXecu-
tives does not deal with labor matters
because Of the diversity of conditions
throughout the country as regards this
matter and because of the technical 6e-
tails connected with it. 1t was added
that 1t was the sentiment of the roads
that the issue was one that should be
handled through customary channels,
meaning with the individual carriers.
Attention also was called to the results
that had been obtained by such indie
pendent action
AS for regulation Of competitors the
policy of the carriers was reiterated
equality for all forms of transportation,
the best service at the lowest possible
cost to the public and coordination
OF the several agencies. The chairman
and general counsel of the association,
it was said had been named to CO.
operate with the unions on this matter,
The union leaders were entirely dis
satisfied with this response. They de-
Clared 1t was not practical to attempt
to cope with the unemployment situa-
ton with individual lines. and they
sd5ed that even their proffer of COM
mon counsel on the subject of con-
petitive transportation did not evoke
the spirit OF cooperation they had eX-
pected.
In making public the resolution last
night d. B. Robertson, chairman OF the
erhood OF Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen. declared that the railroad off,
Gals were free 10 bring up any queS-
ton they like il the conference is held.
If they are bothered about wages "
he said we are bothered about unem-
ployment. It's $3.50 proposition so
far as we are concerneS.
Robertson refused to commit himself
as TO the probable attitude on wage cuts
b. the workers who, meeting here last
July went fatty on record against any
reduction.
The wage proposition is on the other
4 side OF the fence-it'S their problem, "
J he said. Ours is unemployment"
/ The union leaders say $50 coo of their
I associates are idle. and that the num-
/ Der continues 10 grow
) Robertson declined TO discuss what
! concrete proposals the unions would
advance for Stabllizing employment in
event conference is held. II is under
stood that the labor men have definite
ideas along this line
They have been talking about a six
hour daE as one measure of unemploy-
m~nt relief
While they awaited ali answer today,
tie unicns were studying provisions for
national pension plan they hope TO
/ obtain. based in general on contriou-
( lions from employers and employees,
Another important question is that
Of railroad consolidation. and there was
, an indication that the unions would
affirm their previous stand for protec-
ton Of their employment in any mer-
gers.