Milford chronicle., 1910-07-08

ness TO the company and to himself"
Briefly recited, the following, wit
the above, constitute the history OF tn
entire case:
In October. 1909, convention o
the Brotherhood of Railway COnduc
tors and Trainmen was held in Bos
ton, at which the railroads In the east
ern territory were represented and I
set OF regulations and rates OF pa!
was adopted. This came to be known
as the eastern federation scale o,
wages. This scale was submitted t
the employees Of the various railroad.
and was generally adopted. 1t was
rejected by the trainmen on the Penn
sylvania railroad, and therefore they
were not party TO the general move
ment advocating this scale Of wages
Later Pennsylvania railroad employees
adopted set Of regulations and a
scale of wages. dated Feb. 1, 1910
which was presented in turn to the
general superintendent and general
manager. The conditions are practi-
cally the same as those of the Eastern
/ Federation association, but the rates
are very much higher.
/ The first railroad in the east to ac-
cept the eastern federation's scale was
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and
a scale Of wages after negotiations
with Messrs. Garretson and Lee was
adopted by arbitration.
After considering the Increase in
wages made on the Baltimore and
Ohio the company on April 1, 1910. in
accordance with its policy Of granting
horizontal increases in wages to all
classes Of employees. made a general
increase in rates Of pay OF 8 per cent
to all employees Of the company re-
ceiving under $500 per month. and the
yard rates We're adjusted to meet those
accepted by the trainmen on the Bal
timOre and Ohio railroad.
The committee representing the
trainmen and conductors told General
Manager Myers that these Increases
were not what they wanted, but that
they would insist upon the acceptance
Of the conditions and rates Of pay CIV
en- in their position. Negotiations were
carried on for some time and finally
ceased when the committee was told
by the general manager that the COM
pany could not grant more than the 6
per cent increase and the adjustment
Of any inequalities in rates Of pay that
might exist.
After the New York Central award
had been made after arbitration and
on a basis not so high as the eastern
federation's schedule, the company de-
cided that It was It's duty to increase
its rates OF pay, and revisions invOlv-
ing substantial increases were made
and put into effect June 1. 1910.
When the union committee rejected |
the June / wage adjustment the COM
pany offered to apply the New York |
Central rates and conditions provided /
It would not increase the cOmpany's 1
rates Of pay, but this proposition was /
rejected. The Pennsylvania was ready |
% pay for overtime on the New York
1etral basis, but not to make any In
,rease except for over eleven hours.
In order that a clear understanding
nay be had of the financial obligations
imposed upon the company. the vari-
MS concessions and increases i'm wages
ecently granted. the following state
nent is submitted:
The general increase of per cent
ranted TO all employees receiving less
han $500 per month and the adjust
lent In yurdmen's hourly rate. ef-
pcrive April /. 1910. resulted in an an
ual increase of S5.7jO.O0O, Of which
5O5, 600 is applicable to road train
len and S4J5.OOO or Sl2 per cent, in
rease to yardmen.
The further adjustment in hourly !
ates Of yardmen mot including an an
ual Increase of S25.0O0 to yard en-
inemen and fremenJ effective as Of
une 1, 1910 amounted to $3s5.OOO, or
y per cent annually.
The further adjustment in road
'ainmen's rates, effective as Of June
1910, resulted In an annual increase
S305. 900. or I per cent annually.
These figures show an increase in
ages Of road trainmen and yarGmen
lot including enginemen and firemen
$1,65O.OOO. or u per cent annually.
The above figures Indicate continued
Inference to the policy Of the Pennsyl-
lnia Railroad company to literally
its employees for their
,rvices, giving due consideration to
Ie circumstances and conditions IN
IT which service is performed
The various increases and adjust
ents in wages Of employees granted
: the company since 1902 to date ag
'egate S2sOOO.OOO annually.
Recognizing the interests Of the
Of the company, 1t is con-
iered that the adjustment and In
eases in wages granted to employees
nee April 1, 1910. and concessions {
Pered 70 the committee are fair and
uitable.
The company presents to the train -
en- and the public these facts, to-
ther with statements Of the train Z
en, showing that the Pennsylvania {
ilroad's rates Of pay are higher than
ose Of other roads with which it is
competition. The company urges
e trainmen, therefore. in justice to
emselves and their interests, which