Denver labor bulletin. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-19??, 1918-06-01

remember that the success Of the war
depends largely on their services.
Percentage of Increase.
To meet the expense Of the wage
increase, the biggest ever granted to
railroad or any other class OF en-
ployes at one time, the railroad ad-
ministration has discussed raising
freight and passenger rates.
The percentage of wage increases
range from 43 for men who received
SAG month in December, 1915, down
to small rate for those receiving Just
under $3.50, and no more pay is al
lowed men who made $3.50 or more in
1915. The actual additions run up
to $34.
With the exception of office and
messenger boys under 18, who are
given smaller increases, all employees
who received less than $46 month
are given a fiat increase of $50, with
the provision that laborers paid by the
day shall get minimum of 2z cents
an hour above the rate six months
ago.
Increases on Increases.
An important principle contained in
the director generals order is that re-
auctions in hours since 1915 are not
to be regarded as increases in pay.
This means that employees Of the four
brotherhoods affected by the Adamson
act are to receive additions on top OF
the increases developed by that act.
For instance, an engineer who made
81 day working ten hours in 1915
may have had his pay increased to IS
for the same number of hours under
the Adamson act. But for the pur-
poses of applying the new scale the 80
is considered as 81 a day of eight
hours with 81 for two hours over
time. Consequently, the pay will be
increased on the basis of 81 a day,
and overtime will be paid at the same
rate of increase.
Proportions of Pay.
On this principle train employees,
including members of the leading
brotherhoods, will receive approx
mately the following proportional in
creases over 1915 pay, or their equiva-
lent when pay is based on miles oper-
ated:
Passenger engineers, IL per cent;
passenger firemen and helpers, % per
cent; passenger conductors, Is per
cent; passenger baggage men, 38 per
cent; passenger brakemen and flag
men, 40 per cent; freight engineers, Is
per cent; freight firemen and helpers,
"a per cent; freight conductors, 20 per
cent; freight brakemen and flagmen,
40 per cent. These men also must de-
duct increases granted since 1915.
The recognition of the eight-hour
basis, tho important as a principle,
does not materially affect the scale Of
new wages granted. For instance, a
man who in 1915 received SO for a
ten-hour day would now get $4.23 for
ten hours, but this $4.23 would be
considered as 1898 for a days work
(eight hours) and 85 cents for two
hours overtime.
Officials of New Board.
When readjustments are made later
involving possibly extra rates of pay
for overtime, the full effect of the new
principle will become apparent.
The new board of railroad wages
and working conditions is composed of
]. J. Dermody, vice-president of the
Order of Railway Telegraphers; G.
H. Sines, board president Of the Broth
erhood of Railway Trainmen; A. o.
Wharton, head of the Railway En-
ployes' department of the American
Federation of Labor; F. F. Gaines, su-
perintendent of motive power of the
Central of Georgia Railway; c. E.
Lindsey, maintenance of way engi-
neer for the New York Central, and
w. E. Morse, general manager of the
Denver & Salt Lake railroad. The
latter three have resigned their posi-
lions with railroads. The board will
sit in Washington, probably continu-
ously