Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-07-22
MEN ACCORDED BIG
INCREASE in WAGES
RAILROAD MEN OF THE NATION
GET 60 PERCENT INCREASE
IN WAGES

Six hundred million dollars was
added to the pay envelope of the ma
tons 100000 railroad workers
Tuesday in the first award handed
down by the new United States rail-
way labor board.
Rejecting the demands of the or
ganized rail unions for increases to-
falling approximately 1000, 900, 900,
the board decided approximately so
percent of that sum would be just
increase to meet the present living
conditions
The award adds approximately 81
percent to the present pay schedules.
Railroad officials have declared that
any pay increase must be followed
by a corresponding increase in rates
and they plan, it is said, to file new
tariffs with the Interstate commerce.
commission as soon as they can be
prepared.
Whether the award will stake of
the threat of general railroad
strike remains to be seen. The lead
ers of practically all of the sixteen
big railroad unions were present
when Judge X. nj. Barton, chairman
VI lhG bOdIu udnutu LHG Ut
cision. They left Immediately to
present the award to the 1000 gem
eral chairmen who had gathered to
pass :, on its acceptability. The
union presidents refused to make
any comment before the meeting
The terms of the decision had been
known to them Monday and they be-
lieved their men would stay in line
until a referendum vote can be TAX
en-. Nearly a month will be needed
for the referendum. The boards
decision is retroactive to May 1st
"As the maximum increase grant
ed any class was eighteen cents an
hour, or $36.72 per month, the
biggest pay check due when the back
pay settlements are made August
LIST will be for $110.16. Engineers.
firemen and helpers in the yard serv-
ice will receive this amount. The
board provides that the back pay
checks shall be made out separately
so that each man will know tho
amount he receives from that source
Seven things were taken into consid-
GRAFTON In arriving at the award
Those persons who consider the
rates determined on here is too high
should reflect on the abnormal con-
ditions resulting from the high cost
of living and the high rates now be-
ing paid in other Industries, the
board says. The employees who
may believe these rates too low
should consider the Increased burden
these rates win place on their fellow
countrymen. many of whom are less
favorably situated than themselves.
'The board has endeavored to fix
such wages as will provide a decent
living and secure for children OF the
wage earners an opportunity for edu-
cation and yet to remember that no
class Of Americans should receive
preferred treatment and that the
great mass Of the people must ulti-
mately pay great part of the in
creased cost of operation entailed by
the Increase in wages determined
herein"
The decision, Chairman Barton ex-
planned was not a unanimous one,
some members dissenting ON nearly
every section. The awards given
were by majority vote on each sec
tion, with at least one member OF the
public group voting for each award
Demands OF the railroad men who
struck last April and formed new
unions are ignored by the board.
In addition to the sixteen recog-
nized brotherhoods, two other unions
the International Association OF
Railroad Supervisors OF Mechanics
and American Train Dispatchers' as
ISOLATION are made party to the
decision. More than 400 railroads
are specifically named as parties.
The decision provides that in case
OF dispute as to the interpretation
OF the decision the question shall be-
referred to the board for decision
The board does not require however,
that either side must accept the
award.