The Washington times., 1920-07-20
so Per Cent Award Goes to
Early Referendum of Rail
BrotherhoodS.
WALKOUT is AvERTEO
Roads Accept New Schedule
TentativeIy-WiII Advise
U. S. Board Later.
By GILMAN PARKER,
international News Service.


CHICAGO, July 20.-Wage in
creases totaling 5000, ,0O0, 900 per
year were granted to the l 300, 900
railroad employees of the United
States in the decision Of the Federal
Labor Board on the recent demands
of the big Four" brotherhoods and
associated crafts.
GOES TO REFERENDUM.
While the award was not entirely
satisfactory to the brotherhoods, 1t
was understood that 1t was suffici-
emily large to be accepted tentative
ly by their chiefs and submitted to
a referendum Of the men. Their de-
cision to await the action by the in
dividual unions ended tho possibility
of an immediate strike.
Z. c. Whittier took the ruling of the
labor board for the railroad corpora
tions. He said the roads would "ac-
cept and advise the award"
B. M. Jewett was present to repre-
sent the union brotherhoods. He
made no comment on the award, but
indicated it would be submitted to q
referendum.
Chairman r. NJ. Barlow presented
the boards decision.
A"AHD GHOUPS.
The award was made by the
groups, each classification receiving
a set increase per hour, or, in the
case of engine and train employees,
per mile.
Men acquainted with the situation
saw reason to hope that the labor
boards finding would be accepted in
toto by the men, as the decision of
the leaders to submit the awards to
referendum followed a careful consid
Grafton of the wage increases based
on advance information. Their action
in accepting the boards decision,
even tentatively, it was said, was to
be taken as a sign that they would
urge it's adoption by the men.
COUNCIL GOES INTO SESSION.
Immediately after announcement OF
the award, copies of the boards de-
cision were disturbed among the rep
reSentatives of the sixteen big rail-
way brotherhoods. These delegates,
comprising the grand council of the
brotherhoods, went into session to
determine whether they would accept
or reject the award.
On their decision rests whether the
country's railroad workers will re-
main in their jobs and bring i'm
creased efficiency to the transporta-
tion systems of America, or whether
a general strike, paralyzing the ma
tons Industries, will be called.
1t was believed as the grand coun.
ell was called to order, that the
meeting would last all day. The
meeting was an executive session.
a general sentiment prevailed among
railroad executives and brotherhood
chiefs alike that the award ulti-
~
threatened general railroad strike
averted.
The increase, according to the
terms of the award, is made retro
active to May / of this year. This
means that the rail workers on their
next pay day will have the grand ag-
gregate of three months back pay
coming to them, in addition to their
old wages for the current period.
The following rates of increase in
rates of wages per hour were estab-
lshed for the various classes of rail
road employees enumerated below:
Section 1-Storekeepers, assistant
storekeepers, chief clerks, foremen,
sub-foremen, and other clerical su-
pervisory forces--13 cents.
Section 2-Clerks with an expert
ence of one or more years in railroad
clerical work. or clerical work of
similar nature in other industries, or
where their cumulative experience In
such clerical work Is not less than
one year--13 cents.
Section 3--Clerks whose experience
as above defined IL less than one year
and until an experience OF one year
In such work entities them to the In
crease provided for In section .
6i5 cents,
Section 4--Train and engine crew.
callers. assistant station masters,
train announcers, gatemen, and bas-
gage and parcel room employees
(other than clerks)--13 cents.
Section 5-Janitors, elevator and
telephone switchboard operators, Of
flce. station, and warehouse watch.
men, and employees engaged In A.
CONTINUED on Pare 2, ColumN IL