Evening star., 1933-12-10
WARNS RAILROADS
REGARDING UNIONS
Eastman Tells Companies
They Must Stop Interfering
With Labor's Rights.

BY the Associated Press.
Railroads supporting company unions
has before them a warning from
Federal Transportation Co-ordinator
Joseph B. Eastman that they must d.
vorce themselves from such organiza-
tions and stop interfering with the
rights of labor.
Eastman, in letters to co-ordinating
committees in the East, West and South,
said answers to a QUESTIONABLE had dis
closed violations of section of the
emergency transportation act. which
forbids roads from seeking to influence
or compel employees to join company
unions or to assist such unions finan-
cially or to interfere in any way with
employees organizations.
The co-ordinator warned that he had
authority to issue orders stopping such
practices or could seek action by the
Attorney General or the district at
torney in the locality where the rail-
road has its headquarters against per-
sons participating in activities contrary
to the law.
Companies Paid Officers.
He said the QUESTIONABLE showed that
officials had interfered and that some
OF the railroads had paid officers of
company unions while attending solely
to union business and also in some in
stances group insurance and other
benefits had been given employees who
are members of company unions.
"The principle now embodied in the
law, in short" Eastman said, sis that
railroad management must keep their
hands off so far as labor organizations
are concerned. That this principle is
sound Is not open to question If we
believe, as we must. that employees are
free American citizens and not menial
class, subservient to the employing
class. Whatever may have been the
attitude of employees in the past 1t Is
plain that today they are prepared to
insist upon the right to bargain and
deal collectively with their employers
upon equal terms"
Suggests Methods.
Eastman suggested to the regional
committees various methods which
could be taken to bring the situation
into entire harmony with the law
These include:
That all officers, supervisors and
agents of railroads be notified that use
of influence or coercion of. employees
with respect to membership In labor
organizations or choice of labor repre-
sentatives, or any interference with such
organizations is illegal and not to be
tolerated
That employees who join union or
who legally solicit membership in such
an organization must not be cautioned.
reprimanded, threatened, penalized or
otherwise subjected to pressure or dis
cipline.
That all employees be advised by ap-
propriate notice of their rights under
the railway labor, act.
That those railroads which have re.
quired signing of contract or agree
ment to join or not to join labor or
ganization notify their employees that
such contracts have been discarded and
are no longer binding
Must Cease Financial Aid.
That all railroads cease to contribute
financially in any way to the support of
any labor organization.
That those railroads which have re-
tained any control over the constitu-
tion and bylaws of any labor organ
ization or whose officers or agents assist
in selecting representatives Of employees
withdraw from all such participation
or control.
That those railroads which now ey-
tend special privileges exclusively to
members of any labor organization such
as group insurance or contributions to
relief funds, either make such privileges
available to all employees or cease ex-
tending them.
That railroads which now audit the
accounts and books of labor organiZa-
tions or collect or assist in collecting
dues and fees discontinue these services