For many years U.S. railroads have fought what seemed to be a losing battle against union-imposed featherbedding. Then last year a 15-man presidential Railroad Commission recommended the elimination of some 60.000 railroad jobs, including more than 40,000 firemen who survive the era of steam and, at union demand, ride diesel cabs with little more to do than wave at kids along the right of way.
The railroads announced that they would get rid of the featherbedders no matter what the unions thought, and the unions sought to block such action in the...