The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-21
poss;hilitv Nation-Wid Strike
Is Still Discussed Despite
Wage Award.
MEN TO VOTE ON INCREASE
Brotherhood Chiefs Will Refer
Question to. Men Without
Recommendations.

rbioago July 20-Whether the spec
H., oe a nation wide railway strike
,,o.. hAerr laid by the six hundred mil
lion dollar wage increase granted to-
ao, to more than a million, eight
hundred thousand railroad employees,
remained undecided tonight.
Brotherhood officials after all day
conferences made no effort to conceal
the disappointment that they did not
pet all of the billion dollar increase
they asked. The belief grew that Of
fciaIs will submit the award without
recommendation to a referendum.
The award does not go into the dis
position of the many working condi-
tons which the brotherhoods inter
wove with requests for increase pay.
These will have to be determined
later.
Rejecting the demands of the organ
lied rail unions for increase totalling
approximately one billion dollars, the
cent of that sum would be a just
increase to meet present living condi-
tions. The award adds approximately
q per cent to the. present pay sche-
dulles Railroad officials have declar-
"a that any pay increase awarded the
men must be followed by a cores
pOnding increase in rates and they
planned it is said to file new tariffs
with the interstate commerce commits
sion as soon as they can be prepared
The smaxium increase granted any
class was Is cents an hour or $36.72
per month, the biggest pay check due
when back pay settlement is made
August /, will be for $110.16. Engin-
eers, firemen and helpers in the yard
service will receive this amount.
The board provides that the back
pay checks shall be made out separ
atey so each man will know the a
mount he receives from that source
Seven things were taken into con-
sderation in arriving at the award
the preamble of the boards announce
ment says. They were: the scale paid
l0r 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; decree of responsibility;
character and regularity of the en-
Ployment and inequalities in increase
an
wage orders
IhOSe persons who consider the
rates determined on herein too high
SAouId reflect on the abnormal con-
ollons resulting from the high cost
ol living and the high rates now be-
'Os PAID IN other industry, the board
said
The decision provides that the daily
increase shall be computed as eight
lneS the hourly rate and the monthly
increase as 204 times the hourly
schedule.
me railroads, Mr.. Whittier announc-
Fu after conference with the Wes-
"FR managers Association will ac-
'epI the boards award and apply it's
e[mS Immediately.
residents an6 general officers Of
me five big brotherhoods went into
IAecutiNe session immediately after
we decision was handed down and
"u'eated they would have nothing
say before late today.
me union men as a whole do not
Ten satisfied with the increase au-
Ior1ed, bat there was no talk prior
'ne executive session of a general
sN'Ae' The belief grew that the
,"Ne.S would submit the question to
rtierendum vote of their men.
ne railway labor board which
'""ueu down todays decision was
Gated by the Esch- Cummins rams
"'tatIon act under whien the rail-
oI0S were returned to private manaS
n' on March l of this year. Nei-
me roads nor the men however
~ bounded to accept the decision Of
me board
do, ne hoard was appointed by Presi-
,rn wilson with Judge r. NJ. Bur
Vi tennessee chairman.
>, ',I'Aoers of the board, ia addition
NH"uman Barton are:
Il. rye w. Monger, Washington and
,b'I+ Hunt, Cincinnati. representing
u,1,o horace Baker, J. NJ. Elliott and
roa5 mn,1am L, Park, representing the
q, r'oert Phillips of the Brotherhood
"Comotive firemen and ensinemep,
III. Wharton, railroad division of
Is american Federation of Labor and
Rsml ). Forrested brotherhood of
AWAY clerks, representing the men.