Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-07-15

which he labeled as obsolete.
Poweirs statement In full fol-
lows
AT the request OF Richard W,
Smith. International Vice Presi.
dent Of the Hotel and Restaurant
Employees and Bartendera Inter
national Union, A. v. OF l., which
represents ninety percent OF the
nations railroad dining car work.
erp, I have recently surveyed en-
ployment conditions In the rail
road industry, Al a result OF this
survey, ! am convinced that these
conditions warrant full scale
Congressional investigation of the
railroad companies, with a Wow
To amending the Railway Labor
Act In order 90 insure that We
have suitable legislation on the
statue books To limit employee
work loads.
Sufficient evidence already en-
lists 90 indicate that these In
creased work loads are now, and
have been for some time. on
dangerinE tho health and safety OF
railroad employees NJ well az
passengers,
MIR. Smith. who In also scorc.
tary- Treasurer OF the Joint Coun-
cil Of Dining Car Employees, the
railroad division OF the Hotel and
Restaurant Union advises mo that
the railroads have severely cut
crews In tho dining cars In line
with their recent economy and
modernlEatlon policies. These cur
taiiments have been M drastic an
10 lower morale and the health Of
the dining car crows 10 the On.
tent that their very lives are en-
dangored. Mr.. Smith cited one
example wherein n so-calied
buffet car attendant. Tho sole
employee In a dining luncheon car
consisting 81 ~ seats. IL not only
expected 10 serve the passengers.
but also 90 prepare hot meals, ]
am advised that similar condi-
tionA obtain In dining car de-
partmentn ON many major rail-
road lines.
The railroads. ON tho other
hand. argue that tho dining cars
must pay their own way This ar
gument. according 10 Mr.. Smith
and other high.ranking labor Of
nciaIu II failnciouH because techni-
caIIy speaking. apart from tho
ticket sellers. no other employees
or department on tho railroad
takes In any money nj all 10 d.
rectly cover his own wages and
expenses.
II am equally disturbed by tho
unequIvocai fact that although
the various Fair Employment
Practice trEPCD laws have strng-
gled vaIiantly with tho problem
~ discrimination against Negro
employees, additional legislation
IL neceAsarw TO insure that Jobs
In all departments and divisions OF
the railroads are open 10 oolored
Employed Tho policies Of most
railroad companies are such that
jobs outside tho departments trn.
ditionRily filled by Negroes are
closed 20 Negroes with m much
as twenty and thirty years Of
tenure on the same line.
with the increased work
loads and severe curtailment OF
dining car crews, unless other
branches Of the railroad industry
are opened 10 ooIored employees.
the displaced dining car workers.
despite their hong years Of faith
fIl service. will md themselves
unemployed.
Without question. tho best In
tsrsst Of the dining car employees
Involved will ba served most by
fair. Just. up-ts-dats legislation
effective representation and by
which requires q rsvamping Of the
Obsolete Railway Labor Act, !
am confident that Congress will
back up this contention after q
full nedged Investigation which
shall demand In the immediate
future"
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