Evening star., 1950-04-25
Delay in Rail Strike
Spurs New Efforts
To Settle Dispute
By Jones Y. Newton

The Government today had
hopes for rail labor peace after
narrowly averting an economy
crippling strike which had been
set for tomorrow on several major
railroads.
Francis A. O'Neill. jr.. chairman
of the National Mediation Board.
who won two-week postponement
of the strike deadline, said new
negotiations will be started in
Chicago Thursday. The dispute is
over a union demand for an extrs
fireman on multiple-unit diesel
locomotives.
The Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen and Enginemen is
threatening the walkout. It
agreed last night to the two
week truce proposed by Mr.
O'Neill which postpones the strike
deadline to May 10.
Immediately after postpone
ment of the strike. the Southern
and Pennsylvania Railroads an
nounced they were canceling. Or
ders eliminating service and en-
bargoing freight because of the
threatened stoppage.
Four Major Lines Involved.
The strike was scheduled
against major portions of the
Pennsylvania and New York Cen
trail and the entire operations of
the Southern and Santa Fe roads
1t would have closed down the
Pennsylvania west and north oi
Harrisburg, Pa: the New York
Central west of Buffalo, N. Y. and
three Of It's divisions, the Michigan
Central, the Big Four and the
Ohio Central lines.
The Pennsylvania rescinded ar
order which would have elimi-
mated all long distance passenger
trafflc and all Western freight
traffic. The Santa Fe lifted an
embargo on livestock and perish
ables. The Southern announced
the lifting of its total embargo
plans
Early Accord Unlikely.
Despite promised new Govern
ment efforts to win a settlement
of the dispute between the fire.
mems union and the carriers
prospects for any early settlement
of the issue did not seem toe
bright. The dispute has been 60
ing on for years.
The big multiple-unit diesel
electrics now have two-man crews
composed of an engineer and a
fireman. Both the f1remen and
the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers have argued that an
extra man is needed for safe op-
GRAFTON. The railroads argue that
If they give in to the firemen they
will be faced with similar demands
from other unions and that the
cost OF the extra help would be
prohibitive.
Two fact-finding boards an
pointed by President Truman have
held that the present two-man
crews are sufficient for safe opera
ton. But the firemen's union de-
cided to make 1t a strike issue
That brought up the present crisis
Union Chief Refuses Prediction.
. Mr.. O'Neill requested the strike
postponement at noon yesterday
David B. Robertson, president OF
the firemen, announced accept
ance of the proposal in Chicago
after a strategy meeting OF union
officials.
Il hope we can get the settle
ment in two weeks" Mr.. Robert
son said. But / won't predict"
Mr.. Robertson wants all rail-
roads to put a second fireman on
the diesels. 1t decided to strike
only a few key lines in the hope
of high-lighting the issue without
bringing about an emergency and
possible Government seizure of the
roads.
The Railway Labor Act pro-
vides elaborate machinery for set.
tlement Of labor disputes. but it
does not prohibit a strike. Neithe,
the unions nor the carriers are
bound by rulings Of the presiden-
tial emergency boards for settle
ment.
But for years after passage of
the law % years ago both sides
did accept recommendations of the
presidential boards.
Airlines, In event of the strike
tomorrow, had planned to put on
more planes to carry the expected
heavier loads of passengers and
light freight.
In event the strike issue is not
settled. the railroads will renew
their embargo orders two weeks
hence.