Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-22

envelope of the nations 100000
railroad workers today in the first
STAKES Railway Labor board.
Rejecting the demands of the or
ganized rail Unions for increases
totaling approximately one billion
dollars, the board decided approXi-
mately sixty per cent of that sum
.-ct,ld be a. just increase to meet
present living conditions.
The increase "a roughly averaged
the unions had run from 80 to IS per
cent.
The maximum increase granted
any class was eighteen cents an
hour, or 1852 per month. The big
gest pay check due when the back
pay settlement is made August l.
will be for $110.16. Engineers. fire
men and helpers in the yard service
will receive this amount
Acceptable to Railroads
The railroads, it was announced
after a conference with the Western
Manag gers association, will accept
the boards award nd apply it's TENS
Immediately.
Presidents and general officers of
the five big brotherhoods went into
executive session Immediately after
the. decision was handed down and
indicated they, would have nothing
to say before late today. i
The union men, as whole, do not
seem satisfied with the increases au-
thorized, but there was no talk prior
to the executive session of a general
strike. The belief grew that the
leaders would submit the question to
8 referendum vote of their men.
The award adds approximately Il
per cent to the present pay sched-
ules. Railroad officials have de-
clared that any pay increase a award
ed the men must be followed by a
corresponding increase in rates. and
they plan, it Is said, to file new
tariffs with the Interstate Com
merce commission as soon as they
can be prepared.
I: Strikers Ignored
Demands of the railroad men who
struck last April and formed new
unions are ignored by the board. No
: reference is made to the strikers or
their demands. The board had re-
fused to hear representatives. OF the
brotherhoods, that the men were al
ready represented by the officials of
the recognized unions.
In addition to the sixteen recog-
nized brotherhoods, two other unions,
the International Association of Rail-
road Supervisors of Mechanics and
the American Train Dispatchers'
union, are made a party to the de-
cision. More than 400 railroads are
specifically named as parties.
The decision provides that in case
Of. a dispute as to the interpretation
Of the decision the question shall
.e referred to the board for decision.
The law does not require, however,
nat either side must accept the
ward.
ne decision provides that the daily
Ircrease shall be computed as eight
tTEcs the hourly rate and the month
~ increase. as 204 times the hourly
s.1edule.
Now Before Union Men
Whether the award as given Will
st;lve off the threat of general rail
road strike remains to be seen. Inc
leaders of practically every one or
the sixteen big railroad unions were E
NJ. Barton, chairman of the board,
handed down the decision. They left
Immediately to present the award TO
1000 general chairmen, who had
liability. The union presidents re-
fused to make any comment before
the meeting. The approximate terms
of the decision had been known to
them yesterday and they believed
least until referendum, vote can be
taken. Nearly "a month will be
needed for the referendum.
The boards decision is retroactive
e To Nav /. AS the maximum in
crease granted any class was fifteen
cents an hour, or $4,000 per month,
the biggest back pay check due When
will be $3.50. The board provides
that the back pay checks shall be
made out separately 80 each man
will know the amount he receives
from that source.
Seven Things Considered
Seven things were taken into con-
sideration in arriving at the award,
the preamble Of the boards an
/. seals paid for similar kinds of work
in other industries; the relation be-
tween wages and the cost of living;
the hazards of the employment;
training and skill required; oegree
larity of the employment, and in
equality in increases and treatment
resulting from previous wage or
"Those persons who consider the
rates determined on herein 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 industry, tho
detailed increases
The wage increases were given In
terms of cents per hour and per day.
In train and engine service they
were:
Passenger engineers and firemen,
Passenger firemen, 80 cents per
Firemens helpers, 80 .scents per
Freight engineers, s1.O4 per day.
Firemen, s1.04 per day.
Firemen's helpers, S1.O4 per day.
Yard engineers, IS cents per hour
Yard firemen, IS cents per hour.
Helpers, Is cents per hour
HMostlers' pay established at from
SJ.O4 to 1924 per day.
Passenger service:
Conductors $50 per month.
Baggagemen, brakemen and flag
men, $50 per month.
Suburban conductors, collectors
and guards, $50 per month.
Freight service:
Conductors, flagmen and brake
s1.04 per day.
For The, yard service wages were
set at $3.50 per day for foremen
SEAS for helpers and $5.O4 per day
Increases For Clerks
Clerical and station forces were
Keepers and their helpers and clerks
with more than one years experience
were given increases of 13 cents pc.
hour Clerks Of Tess esats eX ipcrea zee
Train callers, gatemen, assistant sta
ton masters and parcel room EN-
ployes were given a 13-cent increase
Lanitors, elevator and switchboard
Z operators and those IN like work were
awarded a 10-cent increase.
Office boys and those doing similar
work were gwen ) cents.
Freigh truckers, dockmen, stock
room employees and station platform
and warehouse men were awarded Il
cents.
All common labor in and around
stations and warehouses not other
wise provided for were awarded an
So cent increase:
Given Hourly Increase
Workers in the maintenance of way
and structures were given hourly
increases. Foremen and assistant
foremen were awarded lucent in
creases. Mechanics, except those af-
fected by the agreement with the