The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-07-20
Union Chiefs Meet to Pass
on Decision; Rejection
Means Tieup.

Members Of the committee Of
the Federated Crafts of Sllvis I,
aIs- In executive session this
afternoon to consider the wago
increase for railroad employees
announced by the arbitration
board this morning. Dissatls.
faction with the amount of the /.
boost and also with the clause
making the advance retroactive
only from May I, was evident
but whether such a feeling por.
tended q strike would not be d. q
vulged BY members Of the com.
mittee.
Official report was made. to
the union men Of Silvis by A.
l.. Zimmerman, blacksmith,
head OF the Silvis federation,
who, with Robert Sellers, sheet
metal worker, Is attending the
meetings of the railroad meIl's
federation in Chicago. The ex.
ecutve committee was immedi.
ately called In session and the
action Of this body will be
brought before the crafts. Sub
sequently the men themselves,
through the federation, may
call . strike Of all tTansperta-
ti0n over the Rock island :
lines On the Illinois division.
Chicago, July 20.-Six hundred
million dollars was added to the
pay envelope Of the nations 2,000.-'
600 railway workers today in the
first award handed down by the
new United States railway labor
board. Rejecting the demands Of
the organized rail unions for in
creases totalling approximately
81 ,00O, ,O00, 900, the board decided on
about 60 per cent of that sum as o
just increase to meet living con-
ditions.
Increase Totals 81 Per Cent.
The award adds approximately Il
per cent to the present pay sched-
ules. The railroad officials have
declared that any pay increasel
awarded must be followed by cor
responding increase in rates and
they plan, it is said, to file new
tariffs with the interstate commerce
commission.
Whether the award as given will
stave off a general railroad strike
remains to be seen. Leaders OF
practically every one of the 16 big
railroad unions and 1.0O0 general
chairmen are here to pass on its
acceptability. The union heads re-
fused to make any comment before
their meeting. The decision had
been known to them yesterday and
they believed then their men
would stay in line at least until Z
referendum vote can be taken.
Nearly a month will be needed for
the referendum.
Retroactive to May 1.
The boards decision is retroac-
tive to May /. AS the maximum In
crease granted any class was 1S
cents an hour, or $36.72 per month,
the biggest back pay check due
when the settlement is made Aug.
l, will be for $ll016. Engineers.
firemen and helpers in the yard
service will receive this amount.
| Seven factors were taken into
consideration in arriving at the
award. the preamble of the boards
announcement says. They were:
The scale paid for similar kinds
Of work in other industries.
The relation between wages and
the cost of living.
The hazards of the employment.
Training and skill required.
Degree of responsibility.
Character and regularity OF the
employment
| In addition to the 16 recognized
brotherhoods, two other unions. the
international Association OF Rail-
road Supervisors Of Mechanics and
the American Train Dispatchers
association, are made q party to the
decision More than 400 railroads
are specifically named as parties.
The decision provides that IN
case. Of q dispute as to the inter-
probation of the decision the ques-
! tion shall be referred to the board
for decision. The law does not re-
quire, however, that either side
must accept the award.
The decision provides that the
daily increase shall be computed al
eight times the hourly rate. and the
monthly increase a. 204 times the
hourly schedule.
/ Onion Heads IN Session.
/ Presidents and general officers ol
Itne five big brotherhoods who wen'
into executive session immediatel,
after the decision was handed dowl
indicated they would have nothinl
to say before late today. W. G
Lea. Cleveland, president Of th
; Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmer
said ell Of the 10 organization