The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-24
SW|1cHnEA WIN S,A0UR
DAY AND MORE PAY
Rata Rate. Instead of Time
and Half for Overtime.
INCREASED PAY AMOUNTS
TO FIVE CENTS AN HOUR
Introduction of Shorter Day Must BE
Gradual, Arbitrators Declare, and
Small Percentage viii Be Affected
nj Start

New York. Dec. 23.-The eight
hour day with straight pro rata time
for overtime is granted to the switch
mans Union by the Federal arbitra-
ton board in decision today in the
switchmen's controversy with the rail-
roads.
The award gives An increase OF Ave
cents per hour for both foremen and
helpers. The swttchmen had asked
an advance Of 10 TO ~ cents They
had demanded also time and half
pay for overtime work instead OF tho
pro rata basis flxed by the board.
While all six arbitrators signed the
award. James B. Connors and W. A.
Titus. representing the swttchmen.
dissented as 10 the fve-cent increase.
to the denial Of time and a half for
overtime and to the award giving
overtime at the pro rata rate.
f. F. Potter and T. w, Evans, the
railroad represen tatives, dissented to
the award OF the eight-hour day.
Charles b. Hovry was chairman OF
the board and Jerrmiah w. jerks was
the sixth member.
The award affects thirteen Eastern
railroads.
1t was said on behalf of the rail-
roads that the award was interpreted
by them as mot givfng an o. X. to
the Adamson law"
Statement BY Arbitrators.
Much emphasis haa been laid upon
the fact that the hours of work OF
the switchmen are ofnen long" says
a statement by Arbitratdrs Howry and
jerks attached TO the award. Al
though the standard workday has
been ten hours. frequently the men
! have worked from eleven to twelve
and sometimes even longer."
"One OF the reasons urged for the
shorter workday," continues the state
ment. "is that men need more time
TO visit with their families. to take
recreation and to secure the other
advantages Of leisure. This argument.
of course. applies to switchmen. A
second argument Is that the long
hours result In physical exhaustion.
often to a degree seriously Injurious
TO health. The evidence shows clear
" that owing to the nature OF the
work there are frequent opportunities
for intervals efnest and that the
long hours testified to are due vary
largely. almost invariably. indeed. 70
delays caused by the interference ct
other trains ana 70 similar reason b.
yond the control Of the railway man
ayers or of the swttchmen. During
these delays the switchmen must
usually DC IQtct 50 thak sAAC iph6 houA
do not always imply excessive physi-
cal labor.
Railway Work Differs.
although It 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
, railway work are so different that only
trial can determine just how far
eight-hour shifts can be worked with
out prohibitory costs to the roads
and undue disturbance of the work OF
their patrons"
TT seems to be clearly established
that under existing conditions and
probably even under conditions OF traf
f1c less strenuous than the present 1t
will not be possible to make the ac-
tual working eight hour day effective
in the case Of more than q small per-
centage of the switching crews. not
more than 10 per cent during the first
year. While. therefore. 1t Is urged that
the eight-hour day be established, its
introduction must be gradual. The
percentage therefore. OF the switch
, ing crews that will be directly affected
during the period of this award must
OF necessity be small. Most crews will
work ten hours or more.
Moreover. owing to the increase In
pay awarded to the switchmen, those
who seriously desire to shorten their
workday two hours for the purpose Of
employing the added hours of leisure
in ways distinctly beneficial to them
selves will be able to secure this leis-
ure by the exercise OF their seniority
rights Those who prefer the added
wage viii generally be able TO secure
that The seniority rules will enable
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