Doble, William J., 1904-1972. Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, General Committee of the New York Central Railroad (Lines West), chairman's files, 1909-1962, bulk 1931-1962.
Title:
Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, General Committee of the New York Central Railroad (Lines West), chairman's files, 1909-1962, bulk 1931-1962.
The significant correspondence in this accession was generated by Doble, and by C.K. Fields (vice-president, legislative representative), J.M. Pattee (general chairman); W.E. Aurand (general secretary-treasurer), A.E. Lyon (grand president), D.W. Helt (grand president) Jesse Clark (president) and local officers of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. Other correspondents include officers and employees of the Association of General Chairmen, New York Central; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes; the Michigan Central Railroad; the New York Central Railroad; the Peoria and Eastern Railroad; and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Files of the chairman of the New York Central Railroad (Lines West) of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen of America, including information regarding labor relations on the Michigan Central, Peoria and Eastern, and Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroads. Materials on work jurisdiction (1931-1957) include correspondence (1933-1957) regarding workers other than signalmen performing signal work (i.e., electricians of the equipment department, section men, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, maintenance of way shop employees, bridge and building department forces, Western Union Telegraph Company, communications department); seniority rights in both the transportation and signal department; and letters regarding carrier violations in the observance of craft lines as defined in the scope rules of the signalmen's agreement, and the contracting out of signal work. Materials on the Legal Aid Department (1932) established for the purpose of advising injured members and dependents of those who died as the result of injuries regarding their legal rights and remedies under the Federal Employers' Liability Act; also include rules and regulations of the legal aid service of the Brotherhood. Materials on color perception (1935-1945) include letters regarding an employee being disqualified for being unable to meet visual acuity standards, an employee removed from his position because of defective color perception, and demotion because of alleged color blindness. Materials on political legislation (1946-1949) include a copy of HR.3020 to amend the National Labor Relations Act to provide additional facilities for the mediation of labor disputes affecting commerce, and to equalize legal responsibilities of labor organizations and employers; copy of HR.2536 to amend the Interstate Commerce Act (1946); endorsements by Railway Labor's Political League for the general election (1948); Congressional voting records (1946-1949); and Senate speeches on labor by Hubert H. Humphrey (1949). Materials on the National Railroad Adjustment Board (1937-1950) include letters regarding international highway forwarders (1941) (trucks to be used in international service with all the bonding privileges accorded railroads); letters in opposition to a bill to construct and operate a belt conveyer between various points in Ohio; and letters regarding S.150/HR.628 reducing total freight revenues for railroads in the transport of coal and iron; minutes of a meeting called to organize a joint committee of railroad management and employees in Michigan for legislative purposes (1939) and minutes of the joint council of the Michigan railroad industry (1939); also a resolution outlining basic requirements of public policy bearing upon the relationship between competing forms of transportation. Materials on the St. Lawrence Seaway Project (1941-1952) include press releases; letters regarding opposition of railroad labor to the St. Lawrence Seaway Project (1952); circulars from Tom J. McGrath (executive director, National St. Lawrence Project Conference, a nationwide organization in opposition to the St. Lawrence Seaway Project); and papers and publications on the proposed project and its effects. Miscellaneous materials on railing protection, on signals, on strikes, and on reinstatements (1940-1958) include letters on signalmen positions abolished due to conditions arising from the locomotive firemen's strike, with a protest to the Railroad Retirement Board regarding the method of filing applications and allowing unemployment compensation during the strike; memorandum of understanding (1950) between the Brotherhood and the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Lake Erie and Eastern Railroad in connection with restoration of small forces with revised operating rules upon the termination of the strike of conductors and trainmen on these properties; minutes (with by-laws) of the meeting of the Association of General Chairmen, Standard Labor Organizations on the New York Central System (1957); a paper supporting enactment of state legislation providing for the protection of employees adversely affected by the abandonment of railroad facilities; and letters regarding questions concerning work stoppages called by another craft or crafts. Also included are transcripts of investigations to determine cause and responsibility for accidental damage to motor cars (1951); report of the proceedings of the General System Committee meetings of the New York Central lines; by-laws of the General Committee of the New York Central Railroad (Lines West) of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) (1931); amalgamation of various lines of the New York Central system (1931); proposed by-laws and general rules of the General Grievance Committee of New York Central lines, BRS; minutes of meetings of New York Central lines (1927); reports of the secretary-treasurer, New York Central (Lines West) (1929-1960); financial statements of the General System Committee (1933-1952); minutes of meetings of the general chairman and BRS officers (1944-1960); conference (with by-laws) for the formation of a co-operative association of general chairmen representing the standard railroad labor organizations on the New York Central system lines (1932); circular letters (1952-1956) from the office of General Chairman Doble regarding protection of men working on highway crossings (1953); union shop operations (1956); recall of men laid off during the steel strike; leaves of absence (1955-1956); and reports of Doble (1934-1946). Other matters include the question of whether Canadian employees working for the Michigan Central Railroad in Canada are subject to the provisions of railroad unemployment insurance (1938); settlement of work claims (1954-1955); letters regarding BRS conducting an organizing campaign among signal department employees on the New York Central system and its request to represent signal foremen and inspectors; files on organizing by the American Railway Supervisors' Association; minutes of general chairmen and local chairmen of the New York Central System (1929); and decisions of the 40-Hour Week Committee on revision of make-up time rules, traveling time, starting time, Sunday and holiday pay, day's work and overtime, reduction in force rules, stand-by rules, bulletin rules, and shift rules. Materials on wages (1926-1956) include discussion of railroad organizations co-operating in opposing the national wage reduction movement inaugurated by the carriers. Materials on veterans (1944-1949) include agreements and letters covering employees entering and leaving military service. Materials on consolidation and absorptions (1932-1959) include a proposed rule governing adjustment of employee seniority affected by consolidation of seniority districts; letters regarding bidding rights, merger of and consolidation of seniority districts; a report, agreement, and letter regarding the protection of rights and interests of railway employees in any consolidation or unification of railroad facilities; seniority dispute between locals; seniority consolidation rule; displacement rights; and a membership drive by the American Railway Supervisors' Association of the New York Central system, conducted among signal inspectors and general foremen. Materials on vacation include (1931-1953) letters on vacation with pay, plan for vacation, vacation for non-operating employees, vacation allowance to estate of deceased employee, vacation for those entering military service, vacation schedule, vacation to employees on 3-trick assignments (1940-1951), and vacation agreements with drafts and revisions (1931-1953). Materials on overtime, Canadian District Public Relations, and consolidations (1930-1961) include letters regarding Canadian members coming into the United States and exercising seniority rights (1941); Council Order No. 8682 declaring six holidays per year for the duration of World War II (1942); Canadian selective service order regarding government employment of union members to further the war effort (1942); a strike of locomotive engineers, firemen and conductors on the New York Central system (Lines West), Michigan Central railroad, and the Big Four Railroads (1952); rights of promoted men when their positions are abolished (1952); and participation in the joint 1961 wage and rules movement for a general wage increase; numerous other routine matters regarding individual grievances, clauses in contracts and government regulations. Materials on work claims and disputes (1951-1963) include grievances (1957-1963) regarding wages, seniority, working conditions, safety matters, craft jurisdiction, fringe benefits, overtime, promotion, discipline, dismissal, overtime, meal expense, and theft (company and personal) (1957-1965); minutes of BRS state legislative representatives (1956-1961); report on activities of state legislative representatives of BRS (1953-1955); a petition to Congress urging the repeal of the portion of the Railway Labor Act which permits negotiation of union shop agreements; letters regarding veterans' reemployment rights (1953-1963); claims by the United Railroad Operating Crafts that it is a national organization and entitled to participate in selection and designation of National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB) labor members (1958); application of union shop agreement to veterans and those on leave of absence; validity of union shop amendment and union shop agreement; also circular letters from Jesse Clark regarding federal legislation affecting railroad employees (1958-1960); and the Railroad Yardmasters of America organizing campaign within the New York Central system. Materials on the union shop and the Travelers Insurance Company (1951-1963) include transcripts of hearings on union shop agreement violations (1952-1962), the health and welfare movement, and the wage movement of the Benefit Association of Railway Employees (1955), among related documents. Additional materials (1936-1958) include letters regarding work week, equal distribution of employment, an official strike ballot regarding wage requests of 1942; Railway Labor Executives' Association resolution, statements, and reports dealing with employment of war prisoners on the railroads (1942); correspondence regarding the Pennsylvania-New York Central Railroad merger (1962); record books of BRS expenses (1937-1952); a memorandum relating to "certain" Chinese railway engineers training for railroad service (1944); and New York Central lines regulations and requirements governing employee physical examinations and re-examinations upon promotion (1933-1948); apprenticeship training in the signal department (1947-1956); regulations governing the issuance of free or reduced rate transportation (1942); a record book (1936) of BRS Grand Lodge dues for various locals (1936); and minutes and proceedings of the 1958 BRS convention.
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31.5 linear ft.
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