Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-05-05 | Page 3 | Labor Dispute Arbitration Starts on Government-Seized Road

labor Dispute Arbitration Starts tarts l On n Seized Government-Seized Road CHICAGO May 5 UP Arbitration IP-Arbitration Arbitration of or the bitter labor dispute which led to government seizure of the Toledo Peoria and Western Western Western West West- ern railroad was opened by Benjamin C. C Hilliard Milliard a Colorado supreme court judge acting for the war labor board There was every in indication the hearing would be conducted without without without with with- out the presence of George P. P McNear McNear McNear Mc- Mc Near Jr president and principal owner of the little line which s stretches retches miles across Illinois from Effner Ind to Keokuk Iowa McNear has charged arbitration by the war labor board would be unlawful and has refused to agree to participate He and his lawyer both were reported out of town by their Peoria Ill offices Monday and John M M. Elliott who has served as a consulting attorney with them said he did not intend to be at the hearing nor did he know of any McNear representative tive who would be there Judge Hilliard said he considered it incredible that the ownership would not be represented but the theW theW thew W L B has determined to proceed with the hearing without such representation representation rep rep- r if necessary Will Be e Absent George assistant to J JW J. J W W. Barriger federal manager of the railroad said neither he nor Barriger planned to participate in m the arbitration Judge Hilliard said he supposed the government would be represented by a member member member mem mem- ber of the W P BOn B B. On the union side Frank Coyle vice president of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and W W. C C. Keiser vice president of the Brotherhood Brotherhood Brotherhood Broth Broth- of Locomotive Firemen and the two unions involved involved in involved in- in in the dispute were expected expected expected ex ex- ex- ex to be on hand together with two general chairmen of ot the Peoria Peoria Peoria Pe Pe- Pe- Pe oria locals Delmar Newdigate of the trainmen and L L. L S S. S Totten of the firemen and McNear has refused to participate participate participate pate in arbitration by the W IV P B or accept its findings Any award will be solely for the account of the federal manager and the working for him during the period of federal operation McNear stated It is his contention contention contention conten conten- tion that the controversy should be investigated by the special emergency board provided for under under under un un- der the national railway labor act Strike e December 28 About engineers engineers firemen and trainmen struck December 28 in protest against a new set of working rules they claimed ignored certain priority rights and tended to reduce wages The company argued arg wages would be increased Several shootings fires and other incidents of violence occurred occurred occurred oc oc- oc- oc after the railroad continued continued continued contin contin- operations in the face of the strike The line was taken over by the government March 21 when McNear McNear Mc Me- Near persisted in his refusal to arbitrate a settlement