The sun., 1919-02-26
PORT WORKERS
WIN 5 HOUR DAY
War Labor Board Approves
Macy Decision Declining
Direct Wage Raise.
DOUBLE PAY ON SUNDAYS
Tugboat Men May Appeal to
President Wilson to Reopen
Controversy.
specinl Despdtch 10 THr SrN.

NpeCldi DtSpdtCn 10 IHT Sun.
WAsHINGroN. Feb. %. - The Ma
tional War Labor Board approved and
promulgated to-day decision handed
down by V. Everit Macy, umpire in the
a basic eight hour day for all harbor
workers except those on single crew
boats. providing for time and half
time pay for overtime and double time
on Sundays and holidays. but declining
an increase In wages, except the indi-
rect one through shorter hours. and
declining to make the award retroac-
tive.
The National War Labor Board hav-
ing promulgated the Macy decision as
an award will enforce II TO the full
extent OF its powers and make every
provision for carrying out the findings.
The umpire grouped the questions for
decision as follows:
A. Was the War Labor Board In
hearing this case acting in place OF
the former New York haroor board
and therefore limited as to what mat
ters II could consider by an award
of the New York harbor board dated
July IL. 1915?
B. Request for the eight hour day.
c. Increase of wages and changes
in classfcations
D. Changes In conditions of en-
ployment.
L. The question as to whether the
findings should be retroactive in ap-
plication.
His answer to the first question Is in
effect NO"
that thn ho tD t<rhf
hour day is possible and is to a large
extent put into effect.
To the third, increased wages and
changes in classiications are denied.
To the fourth, working conditions are
worked out In detail.
To the fifth. NO"
Not Limited by Award.
Taking up the first group of questions
Mr. Macy after reviewing the history oi
| the case said
II therefore find that the question oi
wages and hours OF the members Of the
Marine Workers Affiliation OF the Port
of New York who are employed by tht
Railroad Administration, the navy
army, the Shipping Board and the Red
Star Towing and Transportation Com
pany are properly before me acting al
! arbiter for the War Labor Board ano
that acting in that capacity ! am moi
/ limited by the award OF July IL. lslS.'
I On theTfe,ht ffotr da,' She 'f'ss< 2g WA
THE ferry service is a continuous ser
! vice throughout the twenty-four hours
| with no very serious variation in th'
number of boats in use for the sixteer
! hours between A. NJ. and . p. NJ. The
| boats always leave and return TO tht
same point on fixed schedules. An cigh
! hour workday is consequently practica
/ IN this service.
! 81 therefore find that all workers EN-
! ployed on ferryboats operated by thu
owners appearing in this case shall b'
employed for eight hours n day only fol
six days in the week. and in unusua
circumstances when required to worl
! beyond eight hours they shall receive
! time and one-half for all extra tint
! worked.
IT find that all tugboats and othe
! towing vessels and steam lighters un
der the Jurisdiction OF this award nov
using two crews shall employ these crew
on the basis of a forty-eight hour week
no crew to work more than doubl
shift in any twenty-rour hours, ant
that for all hours worked in excess o
! forty eight hours in one week the crew
shall be paid at the rate OF time ant
one-half II :he boat Is engaged in con
tinuous service an additional crew shal
be employed TO form a third shift"
"The commerce OF the port OF New
York is too important to the city and ma
ton to warrant any arbiter In hastll!
reducing the working day from ten o
twelve to eight hours without having be
fore him the full facts as to the probabl
result OF such q. change. The necessar,
information Is at present entirely lack
ing.
'T hnd. therefore. that the working
hours for the tugs. towing vessels. stear
! lighters, lighters, covered parges an