2 EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION 
not necessarily those required for the position to be filled. While 
there have been many cases in the history of trade unionism of the 
acceptance by union officials of important and remunerative positions 
with employers which have given rise to the suspicion that the offer 
from the employer was made for the purpose of weakening the union 
ranks by withdrawing a capable leader, we have learned of no in- 
stances under employee representation where such an interpreta- 
tion has been placed upon promotions of employee representatives 
by their constituents. It is not inconceivable that some have oc- 
curred, however, and the management should be on its guard against 
making promotions which cannot be fairly justified on legitimate 
grounds. 
PRIVILEGES AND PRESTIGE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
In general it should be the aim to avoid granting prerogatives or 
immunities to employee representatives which are not essential to 
the proper performance of their duties. There have been cases where 
representatives have asked for privileges for themselves, such as an 
extra vacation allowance, a day off with pay to attend meetings which 
rarely exceeded two hours at a session, or an especially high rate of 
pay for time spent on committee work. In some cases such requests 
have been granted, but in most instances, we believe, with unfor- 
tunate consequences, because henceforth employees have sought 
election as representatives with the hope of personal gains or ad- 
vantages. 
The benefits accruing to representatives should be such as grow 
inevitably from the routine operation of the plan. Prestige is one of 
these. Partly with a view to their lending prestige, and partly for 
the obvious utilitarian purpose, badges have been provided for 
employee representatives in some plants and in others they have been 
furnished markers bearing their names to hang near their machines or 
work places. In a few plants representatives have been provided 
with consultation offices or desk space where they have been ex- 
pected to be on duty at certain hours for consultation. This plan 
has generally been abandoned after a short trial because it has 
seemed too formal or has appeared unnecessary. 
In many plants the custom has arisen of having the foreman in- 
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