The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-23
8-HOuR DAY
IS GRAN TED
SWITCHMEN
Arbitration Board Makes It's
Award After Long Delhi
eration-Men Will Re-
ceive Part of Increase
Asked.
Dems d for Higher Pay is
Cut to Raise of Five Cents
an Hour Overtime Will
Be on Pro Rata Basis

BE on Fro hata Basis
New York, Dec. 23.-The
eight-hour day, With straight
pro rata time for overtime, is
granted to the switchmen's un-
ion by the federal arbitration
board in decision today in the
switchmen's controversy with
the railroads.
The award gives an Increase
Of five cents per hour for both
foremen and helpers.
The switchmen had asked an
advance Of 10 to ~ cents. They
had demanded also time and a
half pay for overtime work in
stead of the pro rata basis fixed
by the board.
while all the six arbitrators signed
the award, James B. Connors and w.
IA. Titus. representing the switchmen,
dissented as to the five cent increase
10 the denial of time and half for
overtime, giving overtime at the pro
rata rate.
e. F. Potter and E.. W. Evans, the
railroad representative dissented to
the award OF the eight hour day.
Charles B. Howry is chairman or the
board and J. M. jerks is the sixth
member. The award affects 13 eastern
railroads.
Much emphasis was laid on the
fact that the hours of work of the
switchnlen are often long," says
statement by Arbitrators HowrY and
jerks, attached to the award. Al
though the standard workday has
been Aten hours, frequently the men
have worked froms11 to IL and some
times even some hoursflonger:''
zone OF the reasons urged for the
shorter { workday,'' continues the
statement, 'is that men need more
time to visit with their families, to
take recreation and to secure the 9TH
er advantages of leisure. A second
argument is that the long hours re-
suit in physical exhaustion, often to a
degree seriously injurious to health.
The evidence hows clearly that, ow-
ing to the nature Of the work there
are frequent opportunities for inter-
walls OF rest and that the long hours
testified to are due very largely-al-
most invariably indeed-to delays
caused by the interference Of other
trains and to similar reasons beyond
the control Of the railway managers
or Of the switchmen.
During these delays the switch
men must usually be idle, so that the
long hours do not always imply ex-
cessive physical labor,
Although 1t has seemed wise to
award an eight hour day as the STAN
dard minimum day, the overwhelming
weight Of testimony shows that the
conditions Of the various kinds Of rail-
way work are 50 different that only a
trial can determine just how far eight
hour shifts can be worked without
prohibitory costs to the roads and un-
due disturbance Of the work of their
patrons.
1T seems to be clearly established
that. under existing conditions and
probably even under conditions Of
traffic less strenuous than the pres
ent. it will not be possible to make
the actual working eight hour day ef-
fective in the case Of more than a
small percentage of the switching
crews, not more than ten per cent.
during the first year.
while, therefore, It is urged that
the eight-flour day be established. it's
Introduction must be gradual. The
percentage, therefore, Of the switch
ing crews that will be directly affect
ed during the period of this award
must OF necessity be small
Moreover, owing to the increase
i' pay awarded to the switchmen,
those who seriously desire to shorten
their workdAy two hours for the pur-
pose, of employing the added hours of
leisure in ways distinctly beneficial
to themselves, will be able to secure
this leisure by the exercise of their
seniority rights. Those who prefer
the added wage will generally be
sble to secure that. The seniority
rules will enable the men longest in
service to take their choice. If the
older men in service should all prefer
the added daily wage coming from
the long hours the Eight hour shifts
must be taken by the younger and
Jess experienced men. But with so
large an element of choice and so
small a number of positions to be
pl0yers, employes-and the public to
determine the extent to which the
switchmen desire the shorter hours.
Discussing the increase in wages,
the statement says:
"rhe increase in pay awarded to
switchmen imposes heavy burden
on the railroads which, owing to the
interstate commerce law, they are
unable to transfer to the shippers and
thence to the public. Owing to the
peculiar legal situation of the rail-
ways, the board has thought that
since it is the duty of the properly
constituted governmental authori-
ties to protect the railway interests
in this regard SO far as necessary, it
has attempted to do Justice as be-
tween the parties without giving any
detailed consideration to the added
cost to the railroads.
"The increase in wages has been
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