[PRCo] Labor Issues, Transit Politics & C.D. Palmer

[Ken & Tracie]

Fred Schneider wrote:

> Therefore, a big chunk of the reduced mileage was simply the result of general
> declines in the industry and responses to the perpetual labor disputes.

An article on these labor disputes and the Railways' "corporate culture" would be a
fascinating read for some of us. I believe I touch on the idea while Tracie and I
were having dinner with Ed during one of his Las Vegas visits. The politics of mass
transit is a fascinating subject, even if it can deflate the "what if" dream all of
us have about traction.

What is interesting is that I grew up with a sympathetic view of C.D. Palmer. This
was due to my uncle living down the block from him and hearing the stories of how PAT
screwed the Railways between the takeover and 1967. The viewpoint related to me (via
my cousins, as heard from Mr. Palmer's family) painted C.D. as a pro-trolley person
doing the best he could under lousy circumstances. Yet Harold and Ed related
experiences & incidents which paint a more complete picture...one that shows how Mr.
Palmer was also part of the problem. Oddly enough, the one cousin who seemed most
sympathetic to the Palmers during the 1960s is now an active member of the Communist
Party. He probably views Mr. Palmer's methods of management as an example of all that
is "wrong and evil" in the private business sector.

Incidently, my aunt noted that my uncle (a nuclear engineer for Westinghouse) and
C.D. Palmer usually discussed "shop" (engineering topics) and never discussed
politics, trolleys, finances nor PAT.

K.