Evening star., 1941-11-09
RuiIroud Strike Call

The threatened general strike OF
railroad workers, seemingly set for
December S by some Of the major
unions, promises to force a decisive
showdown affecting the whole trou-
bled picture of the Governments
relations with labor during the ma
tional emergency.
1t may be that the railroad strike
will not come to pass. Certainly, 1t
is hardly conceivable that either the
President or Congress would tolerate
a breakdown in the Nations trans
portation system at this critical pc
riod. But, at the same time, it is
difficult to see how the impaSse which
has been reached can be broken un-
less there Is to be a fundamental
reorientation Of the administrations
labor policies.
While a strike by the railroad
workers could not be justified on any
grounds, the fact remains that they
are merely following a well-blazed
trail. The whole history of labor dis
putes In recent years is an almost
unbroken story of gains for labor
achieved by resort to the strike
weapon. The familiar formula calls
for an excessive demand on an en-
ployer, a strike which ties up defense,
Federal mediation and, finally the
award OF some gain to the strikers.
Even in those few cases where strikes
were openly denounced by response
bic labor leaders and Government
of1cials, there has been some benefit,
nevertheless, for the men who left
their Jobs.
Thus, there exists a situation IN
which it seems that labor has every
thing to gain and nothing to lose by
striking. This being the case, 1t is
easy to understand why the railroad
employees should be strongly tempted
to gamble as the others have gam
bled. But, In the thirty day period
which must elapse between the sub
mission to the President of the Fact
Finding Boards report and the
actual calling of a strike, there are
several aspects of the matter which
railroad labor would do well to
ponder.
One is that the railroads are sick
industry. Hence, the boards recon-
mendation that the proposed wage
increases be in the nature Of a cost
of-living bonus instead Of a boost In
basic scales. 1t is to this provision
that the unions seem to take most
violent exception. But the workers
cannot expect periodic increases IN
an already-high wage scale from an
ailing industry. Even the relatively
large increases which have been rec
commended may be more than the
railroads can meet out Of current
revenues, and If the workers should
be successful in their demand for
more, they are inviting some form OF
Government operation of the roads
on a subsidy basis.
The effect on public opinion OF
breakdown in the bargaining proce-
dure set up by the Railroad Labor
Act also merits consideration. This
Is an act which has been held out as
a model labor statute, and it is true
xL>k - 1.o, eoryad Iooretoforo fo pre-
vent strikes in the industry, although
peace as a rule has been maintained
by concessions to the unions. But
II It IS to break down now, what be-
comes OF the optimistic assertions OF
those who say that our industrial
troubles, the incessant strikes, are
due to labor's inexperience in collec-
tive bargaining and that the prob
lens will iron themselves out when
employers and employees learn what
collective bargaining really means?
II the threatened railroad strike ma
terializes, what alternative would
there be left but sternly repressive
labor legislation?
The claims Of the railroad workers
have received a full and impartial
hearing. Wage increases approx
mating $770 ,00o, 900 have been recon-
mended. Although disappointed
by the findings, the carriers have
agreed to be bound by them "in tht
interest OF national defense" Only
labor holds out, demanding more
and threatening to strike this vita
industry unless It's demands are met
At some stage In this game there
will be added the straw which vii
break the back Of public tolerance
A railroad strike might well prove
to be It,