The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-22
UNIONS DIVIDED
ON WAGE AWARD
Six Brotherhoods for Accept
ance, 2 for Referendum, z
Undecided, ! for Rejection.
COMPROMISE is SOUGHT
BY Various Leaders, Who
Deny Danger of Immediate
or Concerted Strike.

Chicago, July "a decision 70.
night on whether the eighteen RAN.
road unions will accept the 5000.
100000 wage award was promised
To-Day by 7. e. Shepherd when the
brotherhood chiefs resumed their
| conferences. Union officials refused
TO cemment on the reports that
they were divided, seven favorlnn
acceptance, seven referendum
with Recommendation OF acceptance,
two referendum without recon.
mendation. one fiat rejection OF the
| vateIy they said a referendum
seemed the only possible course.
III vote by all union members is
ordered. the award win be tentatively
accepted 30 that the men viii get the
increased pay for this month and the
back pay from May ], as provided by
the retroactive feature OF the railway
lAnor boards decision. A referendum
VIII take at least thirty days
Az the close of an all-night session.
at when no agreement was reached on
plan Tor concerted action, six of the
brotherhoods. in addition to the Mast
ers. Mates and Pilots of America had
expressed their. decision as favorable 10
acceptance OF the award in its entirety:
seven favored referring the question 10
the unions with recommendation that il
I'll.
one. the brotherhood of Railway Teie-
graphers. had decided to reject the
award and was said to be preparing
Tor q strike ballot.
1t Is possible that concerted action
or all the brotherhoods' representa- tiyes
may yet be agreed upon. perhaps on a
compromise agreement sending the
award to referendum vote OF the
l,SO0.000 rail workers of the coLltry |
Many OF the brotherhood chiefs declared |
they would work for this as the grand |
council reconvened today.
Bitter pisagreements.
Many bitter disagreements occurred
during the all-night meeting, and at
times the union chiefs made hot verbal
attacks on each other At one time
switchmen's Union OF North America,
arose and declared that w. IS. Carter,
president of the brotherhood OF locomo-
tive firemen. who was leading a fight
Tor acceptance of the award without
should be barred from the
II he persisted In the argu-
nents he was making.
Here is The way the unions were re-
ported to be divided early today:
For unreserved acceptance of the
award; Brotherhood OF Railway Train
main, Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engl- {
leers, sSwitchmen's Union Of North !
America. United Brotherhood OF Main
enance of Way Employees and Railroad
shop Laborers, Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Engineers and the n
Masters Mates and Pilots of America. |
md file, with recommendation that
I be accepted: International Associa-
ion Of Machinists. Sheet Metal Work.
,rs International Alliance, brotherhood
# Railway and Steamship Clerks. .ex-
Dress and station employees, freight
~ IN |
nen OF America. International Brother
rood Of Electrical Workers. Interna-
.ional Brotherhood Of Boilermakers.
ron Ship Builders and Helners. OF
America and the International Brother
food of Blacksmiths.J Drop Forgers ana
Helpers.
For referring the award to the rank
md file without recommendations:
OF Railway Signalmcn and
he railway employees department OF the
American Federation OF Labor.
For rejection Of the award and the
,rdering Of strike ballot: Order I I
Railway TeleRraphers
Undecided: Order OF Railway Conduc- :
ors. ...
Efforts to compromise the attitudes or
he various brotherhoods was under |
NV this morning and hope for re-
ort nv the union chiefs to the 1,OOO
enerai chairmen was entertained.
AS pointed out that should no agree !
,ent he reached by the heads OF the
rotherhoods. each organization might
axe Individual action on the award.
Despite the difference OF opinion
mong the leaders the union chiefs
siteratcd today that there was NO
anger Of an immediate and concerted
trfke. They also were inclined to be-
tile roported efforts OF members Of the
hlcago Yardmen's association. 100 OF
HON struck In Chicago yesterday to
ring about general walkout and de- l
AIRED that sporadic strikes would he \
,ught to the last ditch by the inter-
stional unions. n
The railway labor board today began
earrings on the application for Increased n
" of 10000 employees OF the American A
ailway Express company who were not
cluded In the railway mems award N