Mr. Travis stated that he had been informed that after the meeting of the bus drivers called September 27 for the purpose of discussing the Employees' Association, or in other words, the company union, I took a number of the men who had been present to the office of Mr. C. W. Moffett, acting general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. I admitted that I had done so, but no man was forced to go and in doing so exercised his own free will. Mr. Travis also stated that he had been informed I had made the statement to drivers that they were a bunch of "d--n fools" if they did not accept the opportunity presented them by virtue of the National Industrial Recovery Act to become affiliated with a bona fide labor organization. In answering Mr. Travis' statement, I stated I had not forced or tried to coerce in any way any individual to whom I have talked, merely presenting my feelings and explaining to them the advantages of being affiliated with any bona fide labor organization * I stated that my preference is the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and asked the men if they desired to investigate what this organization has to offer. At this point Mr. Travis made the statement that it was plain to him that had he first enlisted my services I would have been instrumental in assisting the formation of the Company Employees' Association and that the present condition would not have existed. I replied to Mr. Travis that I had not been enlisted by any organization, in particular not the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, as one would infer from his statement, for the purpose of influencing fellow drivers to join a labor organization. I wish to emphatically state that I have not influenced any individual with whom I have come in contact, nor have I been asked to do so by any labor organization. My reason for taking the initiative in this matter is not from a selfish standpoint but for the betterment of working and wage conditions of all the members in the driving ranks, not only on the Pacific Greyhound Lines but on all bus lines concerned. I might state that another reason for my asking the men to investigate both sides of the story is to show them the advantages of being affiliated with a bona fide labor organization which is in a position to give them the proper representation and endeavor to improve working and wage conditions, which we could not hope to secure from a company union. To go more into detail, it would mean that any bona fide labor organization of their own choosing would draw up a contract of working conditions and wage scales, with the assurance of a fair hearing in any difficulty which may arise relative to their duties. I have also made the statement that under section 7 (a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act the Government has informed employers that they must negotiate with any representatives chosen by the men. Mr. Travis asked me why I had affiliated with an organization so inimical to our class of transportation, also if I thought I was using good judgment, in fairness to myself and my fellow employes, in stating to other fellow employes my choice of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen to represent me in negotiating the above-mentioned contract. To this I replied I was entitled to choose my own representation. Mr. Travis said he still thought I am making a mistake in joining an organization which has fought us so bitterly ever since the origination of bus transportation and asked if I am foolish enough to believe that any railroad brotherhood would serve us as well as they have served the railroad men. He asked if I had read the article given the press by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, opening the way for enrollment in their organization. At this point he asked if I believed this to be a Pacific coast movement only, and I replied to my knowledge it is a national movement. He informed me that upon wiring and communicating by telephone with the East they advised they are not confronted with conditions of a like nature, to which I replied that I am thoroughly convinced it is in the form of a national movement. He also stated that he could have taken the same stand as other employers by releasing men who affiliated or expressed their desire to affiliate with a labor organization, adding that he had word from the East that 250 men are at his disposal. I asked Mr. Travis if he anticipated a strike or any other trouble to arise from this situation. He said no. I advised him that the men have no intention nor is it the purpose of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, which organization is apparently the choice of the Pacific Greyhound bus drivers to act as their representative, to resort to strikes to secure any request they might make upon the management. Mr. Travis said he thought it would be unwise on the part of the men to affiliate with an organization that would not have their best interests at heart; however, he admitted that if we were to form an independent association of our own we would be in no position, financially, to support the proper legal representation necessary to guarantee a perpetual working agreement. He made the statement that he felt the issue regarding the drivers becoming affiliated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen had gone beyond recall but suggested that we become affiliated with some other labor organization. He also stated that he would never deal with any railroad brotherhood after having fought them for so many years for the reason they were so inimical to the bus transportation interests, further stating that if the issue were forced and he had to recognize the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen as the drivers' representatives he would step out and let someone else do it. He also said that he would rather deal with any other organization on a strike basis than to deal with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. For the purpose of securing a definite statement from Mr. Travis regarding his desire to have all of the drivers join the Company Employees' Association, I informed him that if he wished I would, as a disinterested party, present the company's standpoint to the drivers on my division but would not endorse either its acceptance or rejection. Mr. Travis stated he believed that if I were to offer my approval of giving the Employees' Association, or the company union, a trial, the men would be inclined to accept same and in return he would not offer me anything which would insult my integrity for taking this matter before the boys but at some future date I would be rewarded in some way that would not insult my personal integrity. This closed our discussion. To whom it may concern: I, wife of bus driver employed by the Pacific Greyhound Lines, was called this date into the office of Mr. W. E. Travis, president, Pacific Greyhound Lines, when he endeavored to persuade me to use my influence on my husband, Mr. -, to withdraw his efforts toward the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and to support the company's union. Mr. Travis asked what I had against the company union and I explained that it was due to undesirable working conditions and rates of pay. He stated that he wants to put this company union across and, in order to do so, it is necessary to have the support of all drivers, that everybody concerned would have to work in harmony and those not in harmony would have to be eliminated. He further stated that he would like to see me change my attitude and not to be so terribly bitter. He also stated that he would recognize any other union but the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, because the Brotherhood is out to break the bus industry, which would result in the Pacific Greyhound Lines going into receivership, and then everyone would be out of a job. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., To whom it may concern: I, bus driver of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., have been called before three different officials of the Pacific Greyhound Lines in an attempt on their part, to influence me in my choice of an organization to represent me. The company association has twice been presented to the drivers on division no. 4 and both times has been rejected by a large majority vote. We stated the first time the association was rejected; we did not care to further associate ourselves with an association formed by the company. Prior to the last meeting, I was called into Mr. L. D. Jones's office, general manger of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, at which time he tried to influence me against my preference of an organization. I stated my preference to be the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. He informed me that Brotherhood does not have the company's or employees' best interests at heart. I replied I was entitled to make my own choice. I closed the conversation by explaining to Mr. Jones that I clearly understood the interpretation of his expla nation why I should not join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engine men. To whom it may concern: I, employed as bus driver on the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., was called into the office of Mr. W. E. Travis, president, Pacific Greyhound Lines, on October 3, 1933, when I was requested by one E. A. Raymond, representative of the company union, to sign the following telegram: WARREN MACY, Los Angeles, Calif. "SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., October 3, 1933. Division 4 and 6 are 80 percent for Employees' Association. Have the boys on division 3 get in line." This request was made of me in the presence of Judge Lucas, chief counsel for the Pacific Greyhound Lines; Mr. Johnson, agent of the Pacific Greyhound Lines Terminal in Oakland, Calif., and secretary of the company union; and Mr. A. F. Martin, representative of the company union. This request was made upon me due to the fact that it was alleged I have been actively engaged in soliciting the drivers to affiliate with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and it was stated by Messrs. Raymond and Martin and concurred in by Mr. Johnson that the telegram above quoted would influence the bus drivers on division 3 to join the company union. To whom it may concern: On account of my activities and affiliation with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, I have on numerous occasions, as stated before, been called into the offices of the officials of the Pacific Greyhound Lines. On October 3, 1933, I was again called to the office of Mr. W. E. Travis, president Pacific Greyhound Lines, when he informed me that we must all get behind the company union and put it across before the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen can get in and organize the bus drivers. I signed an application to join the company union to preclude the possibility of further interference or coercion by the company or representatives of the company union because I have affiliated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. I, employed as a bus driver by the Pacific Greyhound Lines, was accosted by Mr. A. Freyschlag, who is superintendent of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, and I was asked if I had joined the Brotherhood. I replied: "Sure, I have." He then said: "I'm sorry to hear that, as they can do nothing for you.' He then went on to say: "They are in bad financial condition and all they want is your money." He also said: "I am talking to you as a friend, you understand, and not as your superintendent, and have your best interests at heart and am sorry to see you do this and hope you will reconsider." OCTOBER 19, 1933. Mr. C. W. MOFFITT, 861 Pacific Building, San Francisco, Calif. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: Herewith inclosed affidavit of The minutes of the meeting held October 14, 1933, which I forwarded to you under date of October 18 is a true record of the proceedings of the meeting of October 14, 1933, to which this affidavit makes reference. Fraternally yours, P. N. SCHLIZ. drivers attending. That Mr. Travis, president of the Pacific Greyhound Bus Lines, Inc., presided over the meeting as chairman during the duration of the meeting. Mr. Travis discussed in the meeting the question of drivers affiliating with the Drivers' Association as against their affiliation with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. To whom it may concern: On the night of October 2, 1933, I was told by the Pacific Greyhound Lines dispatcher in Oakland, Calif., to report to Mr. W. E. Travis, President of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, the following day: At 10:15 A.M., October 3, I entered Mr. Travis' office at 9 Main Street, San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Travis said: ". you have been unduly active for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. Now, understand, I am not denying your right to join an organization of your own choosing, but you have been active at Davis Junction on company time, which is not right." I replied that any conversations with other drivers regarding choosing between the company union and the Brotherhood had not been allowed to interfere with company work. Mr. Travis said: "Nevertheless, you have been doing it on company time and it must stop." Mr. Travis said: "You are doing the wrong thing in joining the Brotherhood. Those are the same men who were complaining about busses taking the bread and butter out of their mouths. Do you expect them to change overnight? All they want is the money of you men.' I replied that I had talked with railroad men many times at the towns of Redding, Weed, and Dunsmuir about the transportation business, and their organization, and that it is my opinion they have changed their minds about busses and that they want to get on the "band wagon", as it were, by getting into the bus business themselves, and that they believe it their right to organize the bus drivers as the Pacific Greyhound Lines is a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Co. Mr. Travis said: "Pacific Greyhound Lines are not a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Co. and, if they are organizing on that assumption, then they have no right to organize you men. I will show you that the Southern Pacific Co. owns but a third of Pacific Greyhound Lines." Mr. Travis then pressed a desk button and a man entered the office, who Mr. Travis told to get certain papers. This man left the office and soon reappeared with some papers which he handed to Mr. Travis. Mr. Travis then read from the papers the names of various stockholders and the number of shares held by them. I told Mr. Travis that I had understood that the Southern Pacific Co. controlled two thirds of Pacific Greyhound Lines, that I had no faith in the Southern Pacific Co.'s dealings with labor and that they (the Southern Pacific Co.) had not only altered that opinion but had strengthened it in their management of the Pacific Greyhound Lines for the last couple of years, in the presons of former Southern Pacific Co. officials who were transferred to the Pacific Greyhound Lines after the merger of the three companies. Mr. Travis said: "I have not been in active touch with the affairs of the company for some time, and possibly things have not been all that they could be, but I propose to change those conditions that are not right, and I think it can be done very fairly through the Employees' Association. But I will not have anything to do with the brotherhood. They have imposed conditions and restrictions on the railroads that are part of the reasons why so many of the railroads are virtually bankrupt today. Some years ago I had some labor troubles with the chauffeurs in this city. I had a man by the name of Dixon arrested for paying men to put emery dust in motors of my cars. This Dixon was and still is an official of the Chauffeurs' Union here. In spite of that experience with this man Dixon and the Chauffeurs' Union, I would a hundred times rather deal with them than with the brotherhood." I told Mr. Travis that he had given me something to think about and left his office. On September 15, 1933, a meeting was held in the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., Terminal in San Francisco, for the purpose of submitting to the drivers & working agreement and bylaws of a proposed employees association. After these bylaws and the working agreement had been read there was considerable discussion by the 23 drivers present. Following the discussion a motion was made to take a vote to decide whether we, the drivers, wished an employees' association. The 23 men present voted unanimously to reject the employees' association in its entirety. We the undersigned drivers were present at this meeting. On September 27, 1933, a meeting was held in the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., terminal, in San Francisco, for the purpose of submitting to the drivers a revised bylaws and working agreement of the proposed employees' association. After these bylaws and working agreement had been read, there was considerable discussion by the 27 drivers present. Following the discussion a motion was made to take a vote to decide whether or not we, the drivers, wished an employees' association. Twenty-six of the drivers present voted to reject the employees association, also the bylaws and working agreement. One driver present voted to accept. We, the undersigned drivers, were present at the meeting of September 27, 1933, San Francisco, Calif. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, City and county of San Francisco, ss: I. bus driver in the employ of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., was summoned to the office of Mr. W. E. Travis, president of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, and the following represents substantially what he said to me: Mr. Travis told me that if he knew of any man in his employ who is organizing or influencing other drivers to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen he would discharge him, regardless of what the cost or result might be, and he would not give a d-n what the National Recovery Administration or anyone else thought about it. He asked me if I joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and I told him that I was 100 percent brotherhood. He then said that any man who would not work his way would not work for him. He said that he would sanction any union but the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and that there is one man in this world, above all, with whom he would absolutely refuse to do business, and that is Mr. C. W. Moffitt. Mr. Travis said that if he knew at the moment that I had at any time solicited or caused any driver to become a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen he would fire me; in fact, if necessary, he would fire every man; that he would not tolerate any man working against him and that he is paying the men wages to work for him and not against him. To whom it may concern: I, was contacted by Mr. Krug, superintendent of division no. 4 of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., at Salinas, Calif., October 17, 1933, and requested by him to sign the revised constitution, bylaws, and working agreement prepared by the Drivers' Association, or company union. Mr. another driver on division no. 4 of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, was also asked, in my presence, to sign the same document. Mr. Krug further requested Mr. and me to sign a form withdrawing power of attorney given the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen to represent us in negotiating an agreement covering rates of pay and working conditions. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, City and county of San Francisco, ss: I, bus driver of the Pacific Greyhound Lines, Inc., was confronted by Drivers' Association representative, Mr. Mieninger, to join the company union. I refused and was told that I might as well turn in my tools and quit, and he said I was cutting my own throat. The CHAIRMAN. I understand these affidavits to be just what? Just what are they? MOFFETT. To prove coercion. |