Evening star., 1943-01-07
Farley on Demands
OF IS Rail Unions
Opened by Mediators
100000 Non Operating
= Workers Seek Boosts
In Pay, Closed Shop
By the Associated Press,

CHICAGO, Jan. THE Fed
eral Government, through the
National Railway Mediation
Board, called in representatives
OF Glass l railroads and labor
today in an effort to settle ami
cably wage and closed shop de-
mandS of more than 100000
incorporating employees.
George A. Cook, chairman of the
board, planned separate closed con-
.ferences each day with spokesmen
for both parties at which he hoped
to mediate their differences. The
board took jurisdiction of the dis
pute involving Is unions on Deem
ber %.
Demands for closed shop and
wage increases of 20 cents an hour.
with minimum of 70 cents an hour,
were served on the railroad COM
panies September Is. In settlement
of threatened strike late in 194l
the incorporating employees received
increases of 10 cents an hour. They
had been earning from IS to IS cents
an hour and had asked raises rang
Ing from 30 to "a cents.
Issue Raised First Time.
Introduction of the closed shop
Issue was the first time the subject
had been raised in the history of
labor relations between the lines
and the incorporating groups.
Intervention of the Mediation
Board is the first move provided for
under the National Railway Act de-
signed to dispose of labor contro-
versies without Gripping the Ma
tion's transportation facilities
through strikes.
If the mediation board fails to
effect settlement it is required to
attempt to induce the parties to
agree to arbitration. Such arbitra-
tion is legally binding on the parties.
IT one or both parties refuse to
arbitrate, for 80 days thereafter
There can be no change in the sta
tus OF the dispute unless, in the
boards judgment, it threatens to
interrupt interstate commerce. In
that event the board would notify
the President, who could name an
emergency fact-finding board to in
vestigate the controversy and re-
port.
Must Report in 30 Days.
The emergency board must re-
port to the President within 80
days from the date of its appoint
ment. For 30 days after it has re-
ported, the status of the dispute
may not change.
This procedure, or the time linz
Its, may be changed by agreement
of the parties if they keep within
the detailed requirements of the
act.
In December, 1941, wage increases
were given about l,2500OO men
100000 operating and 35O,O00
operating workers. Some sources
estimated the boost raised rail pay
rolls by from s3OO,OOO,OOO to $685.
100000 annually.
The operating employees were not
included in the conferences opening
today although they have request
for more wages before their en-
ployers.
Incorporating personnel receives
about so per cent of the total COM
pensation paid workers by railroads
which would be about S84O,0O0,0 900
for the first half of the year.
Total wages for 1941 we're S2,33l,-
650,452, largest for any year since
1880 when $2,55O, 1859 was paid.
The IS incorporating unions de-
manding higher pay for members
are: Order of Railway Telegraphers,
International Association of Ma
Chinists, international Brotherhood
OF BoilermakerS, Iron Ship Builders
and Helpers of America. Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Blacksmiths,
Drop Forgers and Helpers; Sheet
Metal Workers International Asso-
clatlon, International Brotherhood
Of Electrical Workers, Brotherhood
OF Railway Carmen of America, In
ternational Brotherhood of Firemen,
Oilers, Roundhouse and Railway
Shop Laborers; Brotherhood of Rail
way and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station EN-
ployeS; Brotherhood of Maintenance
of Way Employees, Brotherhood of
Railroad Signalmen of America, Ma
tional Organization Masters, Mates
and Pilots of America; National Ma
rine Engineers Beneficial Associa-
ton, International LongShoremen's
Association.
The Hotel and Restaurant EN-
ployes' International Alliance and
Bartenders' international League of
America also are parties to the ac-
ton.
The AFL railway employees de-
partment in addition participates in
negotiations in behalf of seven shop
crafts listed individually.