Evening star., 1948-05-11
u. ). Writ Alone
.Averted Strike,
Unions Reveal
Troins Running on
Schedule With Army
Directing Operations
By james Y. Newton

The Nations vast railroad net
work was operating on schedule
today under technical direction
of the Army. but leaders Of three
rail unions revealed their 6 am.
strike would have gone through
had the Government failed to
back up seizure with a District
Court restraining order.
There were these developments
after Justice T. Alan Goldsborough's
order ended a grave threat to the
country only a few hours before
the rail workers we're set to leave
their jobs:
l. The three union leaders called
on the Government for fair play"
in helping them get higher wages
and better working conditions,
which they hold necessary to meet
high living costs.
Embargo on Perishables Lifted.
2. The Army lifted throughout
the country the emergency embargo
on shipment of foods and other
perfshable freight. This restored
freight service to normal on the SO
lines which had banned shipments
of perishables when the strike
seemed a certainty.
3. Secretary of the Army Royal
gave some detail as to how the
Army will carry out President Tru-
mans order to operate the trains
and he appointed seven railroad Of
f1cials to direct operations in differ
ent regions. The men were given
the rank of colonel.
While the strike threat was over,
the dispute over wages and work.
ing rules between the three unions
and the carriers was just as un-
settled as ever. Just what will bs
done to bring about settlement un-
der Government operation of ths
roads was not clear.
Mr. Royal said he had no plans
to enter into negotiations with the
union. but he assumed private own
ers of the roads could still talk with
their labor even though manage
ment technically is out Of their
hands.
Steelman Plans No New Talks.
1t looked like the Government has
a tremendous task to settle the dis
pute and that the carriers will be
under seizure for a long time. Pres
idential Assistant John r. Steelnaan,
who tried desperately for days TO
bring about a settlement, now plans
no further talks with the disputants.
| Mr.. Royal will meet with ths
union leaders later today. but he
said purpose Of the conference was
to discuss operating problems
(which may have arisen or which
they may wish to bring up
II have no plan for carrying on
strike negotiations, he said. That
is a matter for the unions and
management. but I do not want to
foreclose anything like that hap
pening in the future"
He added that he would name
union management advisory board
to help him run the railroads. The
workers will not be subject to mill
tary discipline and the companies
will continue their operations very
much in a normal way.
The union leaders who called of
the strike late last night after the
Justice Department had Justice
Goldsborough sign the restraining
order are Alvanley Johnston OF the
Locomotive Engineers, David B.
Robertson of the Firemen and En-
ginemen and A. J. Glover, jr., Of
the Switchmen.
Offered to Compromise.
At their news conference, a re-
porter asked if the strike would
have taken place after President
Truman seized the roads If the court
order had not issued
Yes, sir" Mr.. Glover replied
quickly. The strike would have
gone through"
Mr.. Johnston revealed the unions
in the Steelman conferences offered
TO accept in wages the 1914 cents
per hour increase recommended six
weeks ago by Mr.. Truman's Fact
Finding Board, provided the carriers
agreed to give them some Of their
working rule demands.
/ He said the most important rule
change requested would provide pay
for freight crews delayed in ternli-
mails more than one hour. Passenger
train crews already receive pay after
an hour. Mr.. Johnston said that
freouently freight men are DELAYED
in terminals several hours without
pay. However. the carrier officials
remained "adamant" and would not
concede a single point.
Il know the public may think
we're arbitrary in calling this
strike" Mr.. johnson said. But I
am sure if there was a clean-cut
investigation of the justification for
(See RAILROADS, Page A-3D