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THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 1950 T0 CANADIAN RAILROADERS AND THE CANADIAN PUBLIC » 4 It is important that you understand clearly why the managements of PAGE SIXTEEN the employees the choice of either: Canada's railways believe a railway strike is absolutely unnecessary. Our reason for this conviction is that we have made the em- ployees involved in the present dispute a fair offer of wage in-- creases and improvements in working conditions which, if applied to all employees, will cost us $37,000,000 a year. We have further acknowledged a moral obligation to implement the 40-hour week at the appropriate time, and we have explained why, in fairness to Canadian industry and all other employers of labour, we cannot put it into effect now. To do otherwise would be to perform a disservice to industry in general and to all employers and employees alike. The railways, after making two previous offers which the union leaders rejected, have now made a third and final offer which gives an increase in wages averaging 8'2 cents per hour, or a reduction in the basic work week from 48 to 44 hours, with an increase in wage rates of 9.1% so as to main- tain orin some cases improve present "take home" pay. The labour leaders have made no concessions at all and have refused to budge from their original demands for a 5-day 40-hour week with maintenance of present "take home" pay, and in ad- dition increases of 7 cents and 10 cents an hour. The railways are thoroughly conscious of, and sympathetic to, the problems of their employees resulting from higher costs of living. Drastic, unwarranted reductions in hours of work instead of de- creasing these problems will inevitably increase them. which has been reported by the unions, but railway manage. presidents further stated: ment retains too high an opinion of the loyalty, steadfastness and sense of responsibility of their employees to believe a strike would not mean a heart-breaking situation for them. That is not to say they will not carry out their undertaking Not only Js a railway strike unnecessary now, but furthermore, because of the tense international situation, it would endanger the entire Dominion. As the presidents of the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railways said in a joint statement to the representatives of the unions last Thursday: ". .. the general public is inconvenienced and Business arrangements are made uncertain so long as the likelihood of a strike persists. Moreover, a railway strike would so cripple our economy that it would weaken for a long time "The present situation...imposes a nerve strain on all concerned at a time when we badly need to devote all our energies and thoughts to the grave threat of war and a to strike if union leaders decide to call upon them to do so but as already stated, it will cause great unhappiness and self-reproach." our ability to take a strong line in international affairs and thus give great comfort to the enemy. Therefore, railway management feels strongly that the issues must be faced resolutely so that all interests, the worker, the public, and the Government, as well as the unions and railway manages national emergency . . . It leaves the railway employee in a The importance of the railways in Canada's economy cannot most uncertain and unhappy frame of mind because we are be exaggerated. Never was that importance more apparent than morally certain he does not wish to walk out on his job ata in World War IL. And without the loyalty and intense effort time like this, no matter what issues are involved...this of all railway employees, Canada's magnificent war effort would opinion seems diametrically opposed to the strike ballot- have been impossible. The same holds true today. As the ment, will know precisely what is facing them. The time has come to remove this uncertainty which hangs as a blight over our day-to-day life." WITH THESE CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND, THE RAILWAYS HAVE MADE THIS OFFER AS THE ULTIMATE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE EXPECTED OF THEM, AND IT GIVES A SETTLEMENT WHICH WILL LEAVE RAILWAY WORKERS IN AN EXTREMELY FAVOURABLE POSITION COMPARED TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL WORKERS. "HERE IS OUR OFFER "take home" pay. In regard to monthly rated clerical employees there will bé an understanding that a 5-day actual work week may be granted by local arrange- ment in selected cases where the hours now actually worked are less than 44, on condition that the requirements of the service are protected up to 44 hours per week. The final offer which excludes hotel and wager transport employees is as follows: (1) Recognition by railway management of a moral obligation to implement the 40-hour week at the appropriate time. \ (2) Recognition by the unions in principle, subject to negotiation in detail, of minor amend. ments fo existing contracts covering working rules to bring about more efficient operation. (3) ETHER (A) A 44-hour basic work week with a 9.1% increase in hourly rates so as fo maintain OR (B) A graduated increase in basic wage rates approximately equivalent in expense to that involved under Plan A. When applied to all employees, this would cost the railways $37,000,000 per year, and would average 8'/2 cents per hour. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY ONTARIO NORTHLAND RAILWAY CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS TORONTO, HAMILTON & BUFFALO RAILWAY