CONDUCT LEISURELY HEARING

   While there are certain accidents and incidents which require investigation on the railroad, there are many investigations called that could be disposed of by having the supervisor merely discuss the matter with the men involved.

   Some officials take pride in the paper work they forward to their general officers, and it should be your purpose, as representative, to dissuade them from their eagerness of calling investigations of each minor infraction.

   You can do this in many ways: by awareness of your rights and purposeful handling of these rights, but you can also accomplish your aim by the obvious stratagem of the leisurely hearing.

   The officer calls an investigation for a missing call, and allots a half hour of his schedule to dispose of this minor infraction. The testimony and cross-examination of the crew dispatcher, together with protests and argument, finds the investigation still in progress after two hours. No matter what the outcome, the benefit is simply not worth the effort.

   The next time the officer considers calling an investigation he will think of the day wasted, of the day upset, and of his constant parrying with a representative who is vigilant of his rights, and he may say, "I think I can accomplish this just as easily by talking it over on the telephone with the local chairman."