The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-20
EACH. RAILROADER

! $3.50 to $3.50 per month.
WITH the increases retroactive to
Afay l, 1920, Judge Barton said some
/ time will be necessary to determine
the amount due each worker. The
computation of the amounts will be
! left to the clerical departments of each
( road.
The board specifically avoided de-
termining compensation for officials
| of the various roads.
! The presidents and officials of rail-
road unions were to consider the
award in grand council sessions.
viii. Know by. NightfalI.
Bert NJ. Jewell. president OF the
meeting said: I'VE will meet with
our men today and will know by to-
night just what action we will take
| L. E. Sheppard, president of the
Order of Railroad Conductors, said he
| would call session of his joint coun-
tcial today and pass on the decision. II
think majority of the railroad men
! appear to be satisfied
Railroad leaders declared the attitude
of all seventeen unions involved would
be represented in joint statement to
be issued following the grand council
sessions.
Decision Not Unaaimous.
| The decision of the board was not
unanimous. The award declared the
increases Represented the Judgment
Oh In6 Oh Af1c NJ All
neuncement was made of the individ-
ual stand of members.
In reaching its decision the board
said it took into consideration the fol-
lowing: Scale of wages for similar
work in other industries. Relations
of wages to the cost of living. Haz-
ards Of employment Training and
skill required. The degree of respon-
sibility. The character and regularity
1 of the employment, and inequalities
the result of previous wage orders or
adjustments and other relevant cir
cufnstanees.'
The award said it found with few
exceptions railroad employment is
more regular and the character of the
work is more desirable than like &C.
equations outside"
4 H. c. L. Is Considered.
ut is clear that the cost of living
in the United States has increased APP
proximately 100 per cent since 1914"
the report said. In many instances
the increases of employees herein
fixed, together with prior increases
Anticipating the award would not
meet universal favor. and attempting
to- allay dissatisfaction. the board de-
clared: 81
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 industries. The en-
ployes who may believe these rates
too low should consider the increased
burden these rates will place on their
fellow eountrymen, many of whom
are less fayorably situated than them
selves"
Public Must Pay Increase.
An effort was made, the statement
, 4 cuff
cient to provide a decent living and
secure for the children of the wage
earners opportunity for education"
without showing preference for any
class because the great mass OF the
people must ultimately pay a great
part of an increased cost OF operation,
= entailed by the increase in wages
If railroad labor will render the
best service of which iteis capable"
; the award declares. ''the American
= people viii receive benefits far out
weighing the cost of the increases de-
cided upon
!, The board asks in making the award
z that it serve as an inspiration to work
ers to attempt better service to the
! public and spirit of cooperation.
This will result in economies of ma
+ terial and labor. and solution in trans
! portation difficulties, it said. The'pub-
/. lie deserves and has a right to expect
t this spirit, board members declared
Dccisiou Has Long Preamble.
? The decision, after a preamble set
E ting forth the history of the board
= and the difficulties in the way OF
{ reaching satisfactory decisions, tabu-
/ lated the increases according 10
n classes of workmen. The document
E contained list of the roads affected,
, including 80 per cent of the rail mile
r age of the country. The first secuon
e was devoted to clerical and station
forces, including storekeepers, station
10 M =
e mon labor with increases ranging
: from to 8 cents
2 The second section covered main
I tenafiee of way and structure WORK
i men, In this list were the bridge anu
: h,,fIdine workers the trackmen, me-
o cha mics and their helpers, drawbridge
8 tenders and the like. and common
!, Lroundheuse labor. The awards rahgeu
i from So cents an hour for track and
I common labor to Ii cents for torerneil
al and their assistants. The third sec
Il ton. covering shop employees, gave
g "a cent increase an hour to super
a visorv forces, machinists, carmen
hla elksnaiths boilermakers. meuiders,
d cupola tenders and electrician WORKERS
S and all apprentices Car cleahets
k were awarded cents more an hour-
TeIegraphers, telephoners and agent
: teIegraphers, towermen, leVerlneh'
. black operators and train directors.
These were given a 10 cent an hour
. increase tNOHts7lSSt"Phf 49,
I awarded a cent raise
e Passenger Crews Hike $50 Ter.
k t5nginen,en were included in the
4 e;etb sec+iorr All passenger engine
4 men we're given eight-tenths OF a cent
F a mile increase or so cents per DAY.
e Freight enginemen were given s1.14
j. nov asv. In ward service, all enginen1en
were increased 10 cents an hour
EHostlers wages were set at S5-O4 to
ls624 per day.
z Thirty dollars per month was the
increase given all passenger service
=, trainrnen listed in the sixth section
. Freight trainmen were advanced Sl-04
: given wa e.