MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS RR. Co.

Data on employees who were left without employment when the stores department at Parsons, Kans., was abolished during March 1957

370.00

Mr. HARRISON. Taking that portion of the exhibit dealing with Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Co., you will notice at the top of the first page the following:

"Data on employees who were left without employment when the stores department at Parsons, Kans., was abolished during March 1957."

Then appears in the left-hand column the names of employees. In the next column, the age; the next column, marital status; next column, years of service; next column, children; next column, homeowner, rent, lease; next column, reason for not moving; next column, gross monthly pay.

The gross pay is that gross pay received on the job last employed preceding the movement from Parsons to Denison, Tex.

Take the first one, Milton L. Dillen; he is a typical example. He is age 56, married, 14 years service, 7 children, owned his own home in Parsons, unable to get a job even though he was willing to move. His last rate of pay was $300.

Senator MORSE. May I ask a question about that?

Mr. HARRISON. Certainly, sir.

Senator MORSE. You say, although he was willing to move, he was unable to get a job? I understood your testimony to say that the company posted this notice on the job and the notice indicated that if they wanted to continue to work for the company, they would report in Texas Wednesday morning.

Mr. HARRISON. That's right.

Senator MORSE. I assumed from that it clearly implied they would be put to work. Do I understand that Mr. Dillen, to take an example, had he gone to Texas following that notice, there would have been no job waiting for him?

Mr. HARRISON. There would not have been a job waiting for him.

The notice said that if they wished to work for the railroad, they should report to Denison, but that was understood, if there were any jobs available at Denison. It was up to them to make inquiry before they ever made any arrangements to go to Denison, whether or not there would be a job there for them.

Senator MORSE. Do you have a copy of that notice?

Mr. HARRISON. No, but I shall supply it. I don't have that file with

me.

Senator MORSE. The Chairman requests to have inserted at this point a copy of the notice that was posted.

(A letter subsequently received by the subcommittee, and a copy of the notice referred to follow :)

GRAND LODGE,

BROTHERHOOD OF RAILWAY AND STEAMSHIP CLERKS,
FREIGHT HANDLERS, EXPRESS AND STATION EMPLOYES,
Cincinnati 2, Ohio, May 13, 1957.

Subject: Railroad Retirement Act, proposed amendments; Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, proposed amendments.

Mr. STEWART E. MCCLURE,

Staff Director, Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare,
Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: During hearing conducted by Senator Morse on S. 1630 and S. 1313, on May 8, 1957, Senator Allott made request that I file with the committee copies of notices posted by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad officials on the office doors at Parsons, Kans., and St. Louis, Mo., abruptly advising employees working

in those offices that their positions had been abolished and/or transferred to Denison, Tex.

I am enclosing herewith 10 copies of notice posted by Assistant Auditor Schulz on the doors of the 2 offices at Parsons, Kans. It will be observed this notice was posted on Sunday, March 17, 1957, and many of the employees had no knowledge of carrier's action until they reported for work Monday, March 18, 1957. I am also furnishing you herewith 3 copies of the Parsons Sun Monday evening, March 18, which I feel is material and will be of interest to the committee. These 3 copies are all that are available from the publisher of this paper.

I am also furnishing you with 10 copies of undated notice which greeted the Missouri-Kansas-Texas employees when they reported for work at St. Louis on Monday, March 25.

I am endeavoring to obtain copies of the St. Louis Post Dispatch for March 25, 1957, and if they are obtained they will be furnished to your committee.

I feel your committee will agree that the actions of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad officials in these instances disclose an utter disregard for the employees who have devoted their lives to the service of this carrier, and we strongly feel that everything possible should be done to avoid similar treatment being accorded to remaining employees of this carrier or employees of other carriers.

Yours very truly,

GEO. M. HARRISON, Grand President.

[Enclosures]

(The following notice was posted on the office door Sunday, March 17, 1957, by Mr. F. A. Schulz, assistant auditor in charge of both the assistant auditor's office and the car accounting office at Parsons, Kans.)

NOTICE

MARCH 17, 1957.

Effective today this office is abolished. Please contact me tomorrow.

F.A. SCHULZ.

(The following is an exact copy of notice found on the office door when M-K-T employees reported for work Monday, March 25, 1957. Messrs. Hennelly and Stephenson mentioned in the above notice are assistant auditor and comptroller, respectively.)

This office was transferred to Denison, Tex., March 23 and the employees who desire to transfer with report to Denison for duty starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 1957. Pullman cars for the exclusive use of our employees will be attached to the head end of the Texas Special (train No. 1) leaving St. Louis 5:40 p. m. Tuesday, March 26. You will be permitted to stay in these cars at Denison for a period of 1 week, and you will be allowed $4 per day for meals for the period you occupy the pullman cars. You are excused and will bepaid your wages for March 25 and 26 are those who do not desire to transfer and who are entitled to vacation will be paid for their vacation on the next rolls. The railroad will reimburse those employees who move their household effects to Denison.

Advise Mr. W. J. Hennelly if you will transfer to Denison and if you will occupy pullman cars. J. T. STEPHENSON.

[From the Parsons (Kans.) Sun, March 18, 1957]

AFTER DARK TRANSFER HALTED STATE BLOCKS KATY MOVE

COURT ORDER BUCKS DERAMUS ON REMOVAL OF OFFICE FILES

The State of Kansas, in a dramatic move, early today obtained a court order to prevent removal of Katy Railroad accounting office files and equipment from Parsons to Denison, Tex.

The action brought to issue a larger question-an agreement made by the railroad with the State regarding maintenance of office personnel and shop forces in Parsons.

John Anderson, Jr., State attorney general, moved swiftly to obtain a temporary injunction against the railroad after he was informed records and equipment from the accounting office here were being loaded in the dark of the night on a baggage car destined for Denison.