Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-29
Union Head Hits
|Kennedy'sP|an
Al Rail Hearinq.
BY the Associated Press

by the ASSOClaGeu FresS
Roy E. Davidson told Con-
gress today it would cost him
his job as head Of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers
If he Endorsed President Ken
nedy'S plan ii avert q strike
over manpower-reducing rail-
road work rules.
Even if I had the temerity
or desire to commend the pro-
posed legislation to the mem
bers of my union" Mr.. David
son said, II am certain that
there would be an enthusi-
astic reclamation for my re-
mival from the unions leader
ship"
Mr.. Davidson said the Ken
nedy proposal lis not only COM
pulsory arbitration. 1t is COM
pulsory arbitration with the
added evil of an utterly unfair
preferment for the demands of
management"
Mr.. Kennedy would have the
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion determine work rules,
binding for two years unless
unions and rail management
negotiated a settlement.
ice Criticized
Mr.. Davidson, testifying be-
fore the House Commerce Com
mittee, said the ICC is less
capable of handling that as
signment than other arbitrator
suggested in the four-year
course of the dispute.
"And the record of the ICC
conveys no sense Of reinsurance
whatever concerning bias and
prejudgment," he added.
Mr.. Davidson's indictment Of
the Kennedy plan opened the
committees fourth day of
hearings on the administration
measure. His testimony echoed
the bitter opposition expressed
by leaders Of railroad unions
before the Senate Commerce
Committee on Friday.
The Engineers leader said
the Kennedy proposal is not
necessary.
There is the alternative of
free collective bargainin g
guided by truly vigorous in
sightful mediation" Mr.. David
son said. THAT alternative has
been virtually unused In this
case to date"
Railroad officials told the
committee last week that ex-
hauStive negotiating efforts
had left union and manage
ment miles apart on key issues,
Including $4,000 firemen's
positions the railroads con-
tend are unnecessary.
Mr.. Davidson disputed that,
saying there had been consid-
cradle progress toward the set
Element Of this dispute and
under the surface-the dispute
is not nearly so hopeless as 1t
might seem to the public"
A key Senator has indicated
he agrees with this view.
Il don't think those parties
are as far apart as is assumed, T"
said Senator Pastore, Democrat
of Rhode Island, acting chair
man Of the Senate Commerce
Committee, which has been
hearing testimony on President
Kennedy's proposals for solving
the wrangle and averting o
Nation wide rail strike.
Senator Pastore commented
in an interview after two week.
end negotiating sessions, con-
Quoted by Secretary of Labor
Wirtz, failed to bring any signs
Of progress. Senator Pastore.
indicating strong congressional
reluctance to act in the strike.
. cut short hearings Saturday
so the talks could be resumed.
Sessions Scheduled
Both Senate and House Com
merce committees have sessions
scheduled today.
: Rail Brotherhood leaders
were scheduled to testify on
Presidents proposal to let the
! Interstate Commerce Commits
sion deal with the key work
rules dispute. The unions have
} been critical Of the Presidents
plan.
Senator Pastore, noting that
the chic; stumbling block "is
the fireman's helper" question,
said the railroads wanted to
eliminate $4,000 Jobs Of fire
men.
I'VE heard that, as late as
June. the labor leaders were
suggesting $780," he said.
Somewhere between there,
these people have got to come
to some agreement. There's
no reason who they can't do
~ 11ouy -