The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-02-06
NV srade Union
At Wor
By JOHN MARCHBANK
General Secretary, National Union
Of Railwaymen

many years past, been fully aware
of the menace Of the Fascist and Nazi
regimes of Italy and Germany.
Through their international organ
ization, the International Transport
| Federation, they have come into
/ possession of much valuable inform
alton regarding fascist attacks on
/ trade union organizations in various
countries in Europe, and particularly
on the large transport unions.
/ British transport workers are under
no illusion about the life and death
struggle which they in common with
other workers, must face in order to
! preserve freedom and democratic life
in this country.
/ They recognize that the Fascist and
. Nazi conception Of a 'new order" in
/ Europe represents the negation of all
the fundamental principles upon which
the Trade Union Movement has been
built.
They know that one Of the first
acts Of the Fascist and Nazi Dictators
has been the ruthless suppression of
the trade unions, labour parties and
cooperative societies everywhere =
and they know what has happened to
the leaders and prominent workers
in these Movements; they have been
/ executed, thrown into concentration
/ camps, or driven into exile.
The RaiIwaymen's Part in the War
Since the war commenced, British
raiIwaymen, with other workers, have
rallied to the task of defeating the
aggressor nations. The part to be
played by railwaymen is very i'm
portant one indeed.
It Is their particular task to see
to the rapid transport Of troops,
munitions, food supplies, and the hun
dreds Of thousands engaged on civilian
. defense work and expanding industry,
while maintaining as far as possible
the normal transport Of the nation.
On the outbreak Of war, the rail-
ways were taken over by the Govern
ment, which appointed a Railway Ex-
ccutive Committee to manage and op-
crate them. This has in no way in
terferred with the usual method Of
trade union organization and negoti-
alton.
The raiIwayman's work to-day has
to be performed at much greater
/ speed, and at considerable personal
risk.
Railway workers early agreed to
continue their work during air raids
right up to the moment when the
danger was actually overhead Trains
carry on continuously although at a
: reduced speed.
Although the majority of the rail-
waymen are included in the Schedule
- of Reserved Occupations very many
Of them were called US as members
Of the War Reserves, and number
have been transferred from Railway
Shops to munition work.
Women on the Railways
As a consequence, the Union has
conferred with the Railway Executive
Committee and has agreed to the en-
pIoynent Of women in certain jobs.
} Some are carriage cleaners, others
porters and a few ticket collectors.
These provisions are temporary and
when the war is finished those rail
waymen in the army or working on
armament work will be restored to
, the railway service without loss of
. seniority.
, As q vital link in Britain's lines of
t communication the railways are nat
- uralIy a regular target for the enemy.
? The Union has negotiated with the
Management and satisfactory scheme
has been worked out. together with
plan providing shelters for all rail-
! wav workers.
So far. the Union has been able by
J direct negotiation to deal with the
> cost Of living due to the war, and with