Imperial Valley press., 1941-06-22
by Peter Edson...
The Inside Track in Washington

their difficulties without govern
ment interference. The status Oh
the case at present, therefore, Is
that the unions have presented
their demands to their employers
who are now holding conferences
among themselves to decide Wnat
they can do. Then both sides Will
get together and try to reach an
agreement.
If direct negotiations should fall
and if the case follows the regular
channels. the next step would be
the calling in of a Mediation Board
mediator. The mediators in these
cases work just like mediators al
ways have to, informally and OH
the record. First they talk to one
side. then to the other, acting as
messenger boys between the big
men who aren't speaking to each
other anv more. Finally the media
tor may be able to find a formula
to bring the two together again.
and eventually they reach a set
tlement. Ninety per cent OF the
boards cases are settled by this
mediation.
If that doesn't work, the next
step is for the Mediation Board to
suggest arbitration, under which
each side names one arbitrator, and
these two name a third. This arbi-
tration board holds hearings, stud
les the case and makes its findings
which are then put in effect thru
u S. federal courts. Since 1884, IL
cases have been settled by arbi-
tration following this pattern.
If the two sides won't arbitrate,
or if the arbitration award Is un-
satisfactory to both sides and it
looks as though the issue is going
to bring on a strike which will Grip
pie transportation, the National
Mediation Board then puts the
matter right up to the White House
Under the railway labor law, the
President is empowered to name an
emergency board to investigate and
report OH the trouble.
The so-called and much discussed
cooling off, periods of the Railway
Labor Act came through board Or
ders and legal provisions freezing
the situation pending mediation,
arbitration and settlement En-
ployes and employers are required
to file demands for changes in ex-
listing labor relations 30 days in
advance. If arbitration is invoked.
existing working conditions must
remain in force without stoppage
of work for another 80 days.
ROADS LOST LAST DISPUTE
The wage issue hasn't been such
a terribly difficult problem on a
national scale since the Railway
Labor Act was passed. In 1887 the
employees asked for and got a gen.
eral five cents an hour increase. In
1888 the roads tried to have wage
rates reduced but failed.
The present demands are some
thing else again: 80 per cent in
crease for 100000 men in the Big
Five BrotherhoodS, where the mini
mum pay is now S5.06 a day; and
80 to 34-cent a hour increase for
100000 incorporating employees in
II unions where the minima now
range from SO to 85 cents an hour
The Mediation Board handles
about 300 cases a year, and the
number of strikes since the law
was passed has been low-not more
than a dozen, none serious. Part
and parcel of it's set-up is the Ma
tional Railroad Adjustment Board
of 36 members half employers and
half employees, who referee disputes
that come up under labor agree
ments after they're signed.
Whether a scheme of this kind
would work for defense industries
as whole as well as it has worked
on the railroads is something no
one knows. But there are plenty
of congressman who would like to
see it tried because they think any
thing would be an improvement on
existing uncertainties.