U.S. Railmen say "Nationalise" E seems that at last the railway unions in the United States have seen the light. Recently the Railway Labour Executives Association called for public ownership and operation of America’s railways. The decision was taken after a week’s discussion in Washington. RLEA chairman George Leighty pin-pointed the vital flaw in capitalist ownership: when he said: “The present railroad management no longer has sufficient concern for the interests and needs of the general public to be entrusted with the stewardship of the most fundamental and most essential part of our nation’s transportation system.” Three reasons for the change of view were: 1. The failure of the railways to Bive adequate gervice both in the elimination of passenger services and adequate equipment for freight handling. 2. Persistent refusal of the industry to co-operate with labour in safety precautions both for the public and workers. 3. Todays’ chaos in the railways’ labour relations, which has produced deep and bitter resentment among railway workers. Cost of nationalisation is estimated at between 20 and 27 billion dollars — about seven to seven and half million pounds. The unions quote war experience. During the first world war the railways broke down in face of war needs. The Federal Government was then forced to take over and operate them, The unions recall: “Under government management, wage and working conditions improved greatly.” As happened in Britain plans for nationalisation then were abortive. There was one difference. In the case of American railways the so called Plumb plan was for public ownership and profit sharing between the government and the workers. Congress sat on the proposal and returned the railways to private enterprise.
Stan Mills
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