NASHVILLE, TENN., November 19, 1916. Mr. M. C. CAREY, V. P., Order Railway Conductors, Savoy Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. Mr. W. N. DOAK, V. P., Brotherhood Ry. Trainmen, Savoy Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. GENTLEMEN: I have received your letter of November 17, requesting a more definite statement from me as to whether or not I would meet the officers and committees of the four trainmen's organizations in joint conference. I regarded my letters of November 16 and 17 as a definite reply to your inquiries. However, as you now desire a categorical answer to your question, I will say that I will not arrange for joint conference with the representatives of the four trainmen's organizations, as you have requested. I shall arrange for a conference with representatives of the conductors and trainmen jointly, and for a conference with representatives of the enginemen and firemen jointly, to discuss the subjects in question, as stated in my letter of November 16; that is to say, in accordance with the provisions of our contracts with the different organizations. Yours, truly, (Signed) THEODORE SPEIDEN, Jr., Assistant General Manager. Mr. THEODORE SPEIDEN, Jr., NASHVILLE, TENN., November 20, 1916. Assistant General Manager, Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry., Nashville, Tenn. DEAR SIR: We are in receipt of your letter under date November 19, 1916, refusing to arrange for a joint conference with the representatives of the four train organizations, namely: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Order of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. This is to advise your decision is unsatisfactory and the matter will be appealed to the president. Yours, respectfully, Mr. JOHN HOWE PEYTON, President Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry., Nashville, Tenn. DEAR SIR: We herewith attach a copy of a list of grievances that we submitted to the assistant general manager, Mr. Theodore Speiden, jr., with the hope that we could promptly secure an amicable adjustment of same. Mr. Speiden declines to meet the representatives in joint conference, which necessitates an appeal to you. Therefore we respectfully request a joint conference with you at your earliest convenience. MEMORANDUM OF GRIEVANCES FILED WITH ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER. No. 1. The use of L. & N. crews to perform N., C. & St. L. Railway switching service in Memphis yard. N., C. & St. L. crews having performed this service prior to 1914. No. 2. Violation of agreement by a denial of overtime payment to Engineers Kiser and McClain, on the W. & A. division, July 8, 1916. (Article 36, engineers' agreement.) No. 3. Violation of agreement by not allowing arbitrary hours to P. & M. division crews at Hollow Rock Junction, articles 10, engineers; 9, firemen; 26, conductors and trainmen's agreement. No. 4. Violation of supplementary agreement by not placing conductor in charge of switching service-pusher engine at Cowan. Supplementary agreement, dated September 15, 1915, provides for conductors. No. 5. Request that firemen be placed on switch engine at Murfreesboro. No. 6. Request that hostler be placed at Cowan. No. 7. Request the removal of 10 demerits recorded against record of Engineer John O'Donnell, jr., account of alleged violation of rule No. 93, at Stevenson, February, 1916, account of train No. 8 running through switch. No. 8. Request the reinstatement of Engineer W. H. Lindenfield, dismissed for alleged disloyalty to the company. No. 9. Request the reinstatement of Trainman George Hopson. No. 10. Request that articles 32 engineers' agreement, 28 conductors and trainmen's agreement, and 29 firemen's agreement be applied on branch lines when crews are required to triple hill. No. 11. Violation of “held away from home_terminal" rules at Chattanooga. No. 12. Request that name of Brakeman O. L. Lynch be placed on brakemen's seniority roster from the date of his last employment with the company (Sept. 18, 1916). NASHVILLE, TENN., November 22, 1916. Mr. JOHN HOWE PEYTON, President Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, Nashville, Tenn. DEAR SIR: Referring to our communication dated November 20, 1916, delivered at your office by special messenger: We wish to inform you that as yet no reply has reached us, and the purpose of this letter is to ascertain when we may expect a reply, and we would thank you to promptly advise us to this effect. We are very anxious to reach an amicable adjustment of the complaints referred to you and thus avoid undesirable publicity, but we feel we have waited a reasonable length of time for your reply, and the duty we owe to our constituents makes it obligatory upon us to again write you. If we are to understand that our letters are to be disregarded we, of course, have no alternative except to take such action as we feel the situation warrants. Reply will reach the undersigned, care of Savoy Hotel. Yours, respectfully, Vice President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Care Savoy Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. GENTLEMEN: Your letters of November 20 and 22 were duly received. I note that Assistant General Manager Theodore Speiden, jr., in his letter to you dated November 19 uses the following language. Care Savoy Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. "I will say that I will not arrange for joint conference with the representatives of the four trainmen's organization as you have requested. I shall arrange for a conference with the representatives of the conductors and trainmen jointly and for a conference with the representatives of the enginemen and firemen jointly to discuss the subjects in question, as stated in my letter of November 16; that is to say, in accordance with the provisions of our contracts with the different organizations." Mr. Speiden has correctly stated the position taken by the management of this company. Mr. W. N. DOAK, Care Savoy Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. GENTLEMEN: Your letters of November 20 and 22 were duly received. I note that Assistant General Manager Theodore Speiden, jr., in his letter to you dated November 19 uses the following language: "I will say that I will not arrange for joint conference with the representatives of the four trainmen's organization as you have requested. I shall arrange for a conference with representatives of the conductors and trainmen jointly and for a conference with the representatives of the enginemen and firemen jointly to discuss the subjects in question, as stated in my letter of November 16; that is to say, in accordance with the provisions of our contracts with the different organizations." Mr. Speiden has correctly stated the position taken by the management of this company. DEAR SIR: Replying to your communication dated November 22, 1916, we beg to advise your decision is unsatisfactory, and accordingly the four general committees are being convened for the purpose of submitting your position, together with pending grievances, to them, and you will be advised later of conclusions reached. NASHVILLE, TENN., November 25, 1916. Mr. JOHN HOWE PEYTON, Nashville, Tenn. DEAR SIR: Pursuant to our letter of the 23d instant, this is to advise that the full committees representing the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Order of Railway Conductors, and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen have been convened in joint session, and they have approved the position taken by the joint committees and officers of the organizations, which is disclosed in the correspondence exchanged with yourself and Assistant General Manager Speiden. We are to-day referring the entire matter to the employees interested in a strike referendum ballot and will again communicate with you when the vote has been canvassed. In view of the position taken by the officials of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway, as shown by the correspondence included herein, there is nothing left for the committees and officers of the organizations to do but refer the entire matter to the members in accordance with the laws of the organizations interested for you to decide whether you will support the position taken by them in this controversy. You will please understand that if you vote in favor of a strike you will be asked to peaceably withdraw from the service and engage in a legal strike to be conducted under the laws of the organizations interested, unless a satisfactory settlement of the pending controversy can otherwise be obtained. Employees not members of either of the four organizations and who express their views by voting with the organizations will be given the same consideration accorded to the members. Respectfully submitted. Approved: F. A. BURGESS, J. H. WELCH, Chairman B. of L. E. W. J. PORTER, Vice Chairman B. of L. E. Secretary B. of L. E. Chairman B. of L. F. & E. H. H. WESTMORELAND, Vice Chairman B. of L. F. & E. Secretary of B. of L. F. & E. W. P. SUTTON, Chairman O. R. C. A. T. THOMPSON, Vice Chairman O. R. C. J. O. HARGIS, Secretary O. R. C. J. A. KIMBRO, Chairman B. R. T. W. E. BURGESS, Vice Chiarman B. R. T. W. A. SUMMERLIN, Secretary B. R. T. Assistant Grand Chief, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. D. B. ROBERTSON, Vice President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. M. C. CAREY, Vice President Order of Railway Conductors. W. N. DOAK, Vice President, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. BALI OT. Having read the foregoing statement, I cast my vote a strike, (For or against.) provided a satisfactory settlement can not be otherwise obtained. I understand should a strike take place it will be conducted strictly in accordance with the laws of the respective organizations. Signed_ Member of Division No.-B. of L. E. Nonmember Occupation_. Member of Division No_-_O. R. C. NOTE. If not a member of either organization indicate by "X" in space following "nonmember." The CHAIRMAN. The committee will now hear Mr. McNamara. STATEMENT OF MR. P. J. MCNAMARA, VICE PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE, BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN, WASHINGTON, D. C. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. McNamara, will you state your full name and position? Mr. MCNAMARA. My name is P. J. McNamara; vice president and national legislative representative Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. My home address is Buffalo, N. Y.; business address, 101 B Street Southeast, Washington, D. C. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, first I want to go on record as being unalterably opposed to any form of compulsory investigation; and by request of the Chairman I will leave out the word "arbitration." I do not think that it is necessary for me to go into the form of compulsory investigations that have been in existence in all foreign countries; nor is it necessary for me again to go into the form of investigations that are in existence at this time in this country. The form of mediation and arbitration that is in existence in this country has been gone into thoroughly by previous speakers, particularly Mr. Doak, who has spoken for the past two days; and the good results that have come from it indicate clearly in my opinion that there is no reason for any compulsory investigation. We feel that until such time as Congress shall find a way to compel the railroads to put into effect the law that they passed there should be no more legislation in connection with matters that were contemplated during the month of August, or on the 4th of September. And when that law was not put into effect on the 1st day of January, 1917, it is evident that there are no more law-abiding citizens in the United States than the members of those brotherhoods, when they agreed to postpone the contemplated strike that was to take effect on September 4. That they have demonstrated by their action in not going and assisting Congress to put into effect the law that you gave them, by not going on strike on the 1st day of January, 1917. Therefore, it is my opinion that passing laws for compulsory investigations will tend to incense the men to do things that their own laws now forbid them to do. I do not want to take up much of your time this morning, but I would like to insert in the record an article written by W. S. Carter, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engine |
