Evening star., 1946-05-25
RAILROAD UNIONS OFFER TO WORK FORUS
FOR 16-CENT RAISE 7 CHANGES IN RULES
7 ext of Letter
To Truman From
Unions Chiefs
Whitney and Johnston
Place Reliance on
Presidents Fairness

The tert OF the striking rail-
road unions proposal to 90 back
to Dork tollo1Ds. 1t was con-
tanned in a letter sent to Presi-
dent Truman today By A. F.
Whitney. president OF the Broth
erhood OF RailUay Trainmen, and
Aiudnley Johnston, president of
the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers.
THE Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers and the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen are patriotic
men and they wish to cooperate
with you in every possible way ir
the maintenance of rail service ir
the country. We know, however
that you want to be fair to our men
and that you will be fair to our men
We know that you would not ask us
to surrender our deep convictions
that the carriers have not given oul
people the consideration they de-
serve.
But we regret deeply the impres-
sion that our men are not willing
to work for the Government. We
will work for the Government. As
you have by now heard, we had last
evening a very constructive talk with
the Hon. James F.. Byrnes, Secre-
tary of State. and the Hon. Lewis
B. Schwellenbach, Secretary OF
Labor. 1t was suggested that, if the
Government feels that it should not
enter into permanent agreement
with the engineers and trainmen
We would be willing to negotiate a
temporary agreement for the dura
ton of Federal control if you would
approve an increase of 1875 cents an
hour, or SLAB day and the seven
rules recommended by your board
with appropriate interpretations
with the further proviso that we
would be willing to arbitrate such
other rules as we are unable to
settle through negotiations with the
railroads.
Advised No Action Taken.
AT the same time it was our un-
derstanding that this proposal would
be submitted to the railways, but
we were advised later that no action
was taken in connection with it.
Your suggestion of the 1875 cents
increase would deprive us of the
seven rules changes recommended
by the members of your emergency
board.
Our men await only your wore
that they can return to work fol
the Government on the basis of the
award of your emergency board, that
is the seven rules changes, with
appropriate interpretations, and II
cents an hour wage increase, to be
effective January /, 1916, if YOU
Mr.. President, will allow us to nego.
tlate with you further concerning
any other fair wage increases.
In returning to work on this basi.
we know that we can rely also or
your fairness and good will to keer
the door open to further considera.
ton of those differences regarding
working rules changes which apply
to the membership of our two union.
and in which the incorporating raj
unions have no interest. This woulc
leave the matter of our contract
with the carriers to be worked out ir
further negotiation.
When the permanent settlemen,
is made We believe We can rely upor
you to see that any benefits received
by our men above those enjoyed dur.
ing the period of Government opera
tion should be made retroactive.
Last evening you stated over tn,
radio that the engineers and train
men were among the highest pait
workers in the country. We re.
(See TEXT, Page A-2.)