The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-23

RAILROAD NEWS.
Lee johnson Trying to Settle q.
p. Strike.
In Consultation With Officer Of
Machinists' Union.
PIECE WORK SYSTEM.
Statement Prepared by an Of
fetal of the Road.
PIECE WORK SYSTEM.
Shows That Men Are Protected
From Loss Of Wages.

Lee Johnson, state labor commission
er for Kansas. is interesting himself in
the Union Pacific strike of the boiler
makers, machinists and helpers, and
with p. ]. Conlon, first vice president
of the International Association OF
Machinists, and other officials OF the
union, he is trying to bring about a set
Element of the strike Conlon's head
quarters are in Cleveland. Ohio, but he
was sent west to represent the grand
lodge of the machinists in the Union
johnson held a conference in Kansas
City, kas., Monday. The machinists
representative went to Omaha Monday
night
In connection with the establishment
of piece work in the shops of the Union
Pacific, statement has been prepared
by the chief clerk of the motive power
department in which comparisons are
made of the earnings of the men under
the old and the new system. A portion
Of the statement follows:
Under this system the regular rate
of pay per hour is guaranteed to en-
ployes according to the character of
work to be performed and the grade of
service, and what they can earn be-
sides is only limited by their ability and
exoertnesS.
For instance, the standard rate of
pay per hour for machiniStS, black
smiths and boilermakers is 80 cents per
hour. Under the piece work system
they are guaranteed 80 cents an hour
for every hours work, but if, gagged
by the amount of piece work actually
done. they earn more than 30 cents an
hour. they receive that amount If. OIL
the other hand, they make less than the
81 cents an hour, by the piece work, thu
company makes up the difference and
pays them the full 50 cents an hour
Another illustration: The standard
rate for carpenters per hour is 2712
cents or 80 cents. as the case may be,
and the company guarantees that they
shall not receive less, but they have ali
opportunity to make as much more as
thew are able to.
THE regular rate for coach painters
is 2lh cents an hour. During August
out of a total of seven the wages va
ried from 30.6 cents to 1873 cents per
hour.
1.-The regular rate for coppersmiths is
| 20 cents an hour. Last month one man
averaged AZ cents an hour, or very
nearly double what he would have
made under the old system.
The regular rate for blacksmiths is
| 35 cents an hour Last month one of
| the company's blacksmitl1s made an
average of ssh cents per hour, gain
of IS per cent.
In the same way the hourly rate for
drillerS is 20 cents. One of the COM
panys drillers last month averaged 81
cents an hour, nearly three times what
he would have made under the old
system.
These figures show what the new
and in some cases inexperienced, hands
have been able to do under the piece work
system. Now, here are figures showing
what the older men in the shops did
during the same month:
One coppersmith, rate BIZ cents pei
hour, average earnings Sc cents.
-Four tinsmiths, rate 20 cents pei
hour, average earnings 80 to 80 cents.
'One coDDersmith, rate 25 cents av-
erage earnings AT cents.
Zone coach painter, rate 80 cents
average earnings 33 1-3 cents.
six coach painters. rate 2715 cents
earned from 301a to 321s cents.
| "One coach painter, rate 18 cents, earn
| ed % 1-5 cents.
1.-TWO helpers, rate IS cents one earn
ed 10 cents per hour and the other % IL
cents.
1.-Two coach painters, rate rs cents
earned BIG cents.
'One locksmith, rate 25 cents, earned
80 cents.
"One locksmith's helper rate Is cents
Seven car repairers, old rate Is cent:
per hour, earned from 1913 to % Is cent.
per hour.
Two car repairers, old rate % cents
per hour.
"One car repairer, old rate 221k cents
earned 1874 cents.
One carpenter, old rate 221z cents
earned 26.8 cents.
"One carpenter old rate 27A cents
earned 2S.1 cents.
These figures show in every case TIN
wages earned by the men per hour, be-
ing the average for the entire month
Figuring nine hours to the day, it il
easy to see how much these men hav,
Deen able to earn per day under tn,
piece work system. In every case wher,
the workman failed to come up to tn
old scale he was paid at the old rate
thus having no complaint These wer
, the terms originally offered to the mel
when the piece work system was pro
posed, and they will be strictly adhere,
to by the company"