The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-05
VAST INCREASE
IN R. R. WAGES
Nearly a Million Employees
Are to Get One Dollar
a Day Advance
ADDS $150,OOO,0OO TO
ANNUAL PAYROLL
Change Made on Recon-
mendation Of the Ad-
visory Board

Washington, D. c., Sept 5.-Nearly a
million employees, including all clerks,
track laborers and maintenance of way
men, are to receive wage increases Of
S25 a month, the equivalent of one dollar
a day, or twelve cents an hour, over the
pay they received last January, under
a wage order issued to-day by Director
General McAdoo. Advances are effec.
tive as of Sept. !.
This order, affecting half the railroad
men in the United States and adding ap-
proximately sl50,0O0,00O to the annual
payroll in calculations of labor repre-.
sentatives, represents the second largest
aggregate wage increase ever granted in
American industrial history. II is sup.
Elementary to the general railroad wage
order issued nearly four months ago,
providing for about S300,000,000 in
creases, and for the classes of employees
affected it supplants provisions of the
order
Most of the employees covered by the
new order have made considerably less
than 500 a month, and the voluntary
increase was decided on by the. director
general after investigation by his ad-
yisory board Of railroad wages and
working conditions Of the pay of meu
doing similar work in other industries
In the main, this boards recommends
tions were followed. The order speci-
fed that eight hours is to be considered
the basic day, but overtime up to ten
hours is to be paid pro-rate, with one
and onehalf regular rate for overtime
past the ten hours. Specific rules are
laid down for the promotion of en-
ployes on grounds Of merit and seniority.
Other regulations forbidding dismissal
of employees without cause, and provid-
ing for hearing on appeal resemble the
rules now in effect under government
civil service. These restrictions will af-
feet mainly the half million railway
clerks.
Thousands of women clerks employed
by the railways are to receive the same
pay as men for similar work, but the in
terpretation of similar work" is left 10
executives.
Back pay from January will be made
under the former general wage order
and the advances now granted win be
figured on top of the wage last January
l, rather than ON the pay received in
the immediate past under the general
wage increase. Minimum rates of pay
are for all classes covered by the or.
der, but increases of $25 month, applied
if the employe worked on monthly or
weekly basis, and of twelve cents an
hour, applied if the employe worked by
the hour, in many cases will run the
actual new rate above the minimum.
In no case are wages under the general
wage advance order to be decreased.
Wages for new positions are to be in con
formity with rates for similar kind of
work.
Promotion shall be based on ability,
merit and seniority. Ability aud merit
being sufficient, seniority shall prevail"
This provision does not apply to per-
sonal officers, forces of superintendents,
division engineers. master
general freight or passenger
agents, and similar offices, where the
is TO be the judge of pro-
motions.
The order does not apply in cases
where amounts of less than $50 month |
IRE paid to individuals for special part
time services. Employees assigned to
higher rated positions are to receive the
higher rates, but those denoted TEN. |
oorarily are not to have their wages re.
iuced. When called to work outside of |
established hours, employees will be paid |
,or minimum allowance of three hours. |
An employe disciplined, or who con
liders himself unjustly treated must
,e given fair hearing by his inmedi-
Ite superior if he asks for this In writ |
ng within five days. A decision must
,e given within a week and the EN-
'loye then may appeal to the next
higher officer. In these proceedings, he
nay be assisted by committee Of EN-
,loyes.
Other similar rules governing dismis-
ais or disputable treatment were es-
ablished as means of giving clerical
orces, most of which are not organ
zed, measure of the protection al.
eady built up by unionized classes
The new rates of pay are to be in
into existing contracts and
uture agreements, and differences of
pinion between employees and railroad
are to be referred to the
abor division of the railroad administra-
ion.
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