Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-26
UNIONS TO
TAKE STRIKE VOTE
opinion was for acceptance or rejec.
ton OF the presidents decision.
ArAon "a Final .5.
CONTINUED from page ~

~ =
Director General Hines, according
to a letter sent to the locals. told the
committee that the proposition, as
presented by the president, was final
and that there would be no wage in
creases granted to any other class of
railroad employees. as a class, but in.
the event of unjust inequalities. as be-
tween individuals, adjustments in
volving increases to equalize rates of
The committee thereupon informed
the locals that the director general
had been advised that his proposition
could not be accepted az a basis of
settlement b. them and continued:
Practically every class Of railroad
employees have now submitted re-
quests for very substantial increases
over existing rates Of pay. It is we'll
that u members give very serious
be any additional general increase In
the wages OF railroad employees, the
federated shop trades will receive the
same consideration. Don't fail to give
this statement careful thought and
don't forget that IL the federated shop
trades become involved in a strike
now, you are striking alone to force
an increase for the two million rail-
road employees.
q LII VIE" VI I1lE ldCLS L1lS
statements contained in the presi-
dents letter and the responsibility
that must be assumed, IL a suspen-
sion Of work is to take place. your
executive council has decided tina 1t
would fail in its duty were it to au-
thorize a strike until the membership
have had an opportunity to decide
their cours OF action on this propo-
sition. It is not our intention to shirk
n Of our responsibilities as execu-
tive ofcers, and the wishes Of a con-
stitutionali majority Of the member
ship. expressed by their vote as here
matter directed. will be carried out"
The letter then gives instructions
for an immediate suYnnaoning Of the
members Of the various locals to take
a secret vote. 1t was pointed out tina
owing to the large numbers involved,
it must be understood that the re-
specttve international organisations
would be obliged to pay regular strike
funds available for that purpose.
Yesterday the president issued the
following statement to the public:
"a situation has arisen in connect
ion with the administration Of the rail-
ways which is of such general signi-
ficance that I think it my duty to
mako a public statement concerning
III ~ O1OCl LII HIIlS WHOLE -COuNIIy
may know what is involved. ~
THE railroad shopnien have de-
manded large increase in wages.
They r nov receiving SIS. SO and 6S
cents per hour. They demand $50
per hour. This demand has been
given careful and serious considera-
ton by the board which was ~constitu-
ted by the Railroad Administration to
adjust questions Of wages, a board
consisting OF an equal number OF re-
representatives. Of employees and Of the
operating managers of the railroad
companies. This board has been UNI
able to come to an agreement, ana it
has therefore developed upon the dir
ector-general Of railroads and myself
No Basis OF Comparison
The shopmen urge that they are
entitled to higher wages because %
h higher wages for the present re-
eetved by men doing = similar work
IN edwards. navy yards and arsenals,
&C. wsli e a n Number q private n
or general II. thinking that there IL
no real basis Of comparison between
the settled employment afforded me-
chanics by the railroads under living
conditions as various a. the location
and surroundings Of the railway shops
kIlSA160lVS5 du0 LIZ - en-.
ployments afforded in industries ex-
ceptionalfy and temporarily stimulated
by the ~ aud located almost without
exception In Industrial csnters whore
the cost OF living 10 highest.
The substantial argument which
the shopmen-urge Is the very serious
increase in the cost Of living. This
IL q very potent argument indeed. But
the fact 10 that the cost Of living has
certainly reached its peak, and will
probably be lowered by the Efforts
which are now everywhere being con-
certed and carried out. It win Ger.
tainly be lowered SO soon q there are
conditions Of production and
of commerce.: That is, 10 soon as tho
treaty OF peace ID ratified ana in op.
Grafton. and merchants. manufactur-
err, farmers, miners al have 1 certain
basis OF calculation ~ 10 what their
business will be and what the con-
dltions viii be under which 1t must
DO conducted. The demands Of the
shopm4n, therefore, and al similar
dsnaande Z In sf1ect thus: That We
make increase in wages, which are
likely to be permanent. I'm order TO
meet q temporary situaklen which WIN
,nob06y can certainly tell how
long. bit n III probability only for