New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-04
Rail Employees
OF All Classes
Demand Raise
labor Board Faces Great
Problem in Taking Up
Questions Left Unsettled
When u. S. Surrendered
Control
1000, 600 Men Involved
Passenger Conductors Seek
Increase of SIS a Month
for Four Days Less Work

WASHINGTON, July 3.-Demands for
Substantial wage increases for nearly
ali classes Of the 2.000,0 900 railroad en-
nloves have been pending since late las.
summer. These demands, first presented
At different times to the Railroad Adj
miristration's Beard on Wages and
working Conditions, were unsettled
when government operation of the rail-
roads was ended, and in turn were
rsferred to the Railroad Labor Board.
which was created under the Transport
tation Act.
Some few Of the classes Of organized
employees have not pressed formal de-
mards but have insisted that their
wages be increased If advances were
granted other related classes of
workers. The principal demands of the
leading unions follow:
Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen:
Passenger brakemen be increased from
dav month; 5Gggagemen be increased
from, S124s0 for 30-day month to $3.50
for 26-day month: assistant conductors
be increased from Sl44 for So day month
70 si79 for 26-day month; freight
brakemen in valley territory be in
creased from S4.0s TO S5sS a day with
10 per cent increase over these rates
wherever The grade exceeds Is per cent:
yard former or conductors be increased
from 1888 TO S7.20 day; yard helpers
OF 6rakemen be increased from IS to
$3.50 day; switch tenders be increased
from S. to $3.50 a day; also time and
one-haif for all Sunday and holiday SER
wee and { guaranty Of twenty-six days
month for regular employees in all
classes OF service.
Increases For Conductors
Order of railway conductors: Passen-
ger conductors be increased from $3.50
six-day month; through freight conduc-
,ors be increased from $40 to S7.65
day N valley territory, with increases
ii the mountain rate from 1851 to $S.37
3 day; local freight conductors be in
creased from 1872 TO ss.3S day in
valley territory, with increase in noun
tain rate from S6.26 10 1913 a day.
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Firomen
and Enginemen; Road freight tremen to
Be increased an average Of s1St a day
ever present rates; yard freight fire
men be increased an average Of S2.25
day over present rates; passenger ire
men 70 be increased from present aver
age o. s4.5l day TO $3.50 q day.
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers:
While presenting no specific requests.
notice was served that the engineers de-
sired Increases proportionate to any in
creases granted other employees.
A.! road employees, as distinguished
rom yard employees, in the four fore
gong organizations, generally grouped
IS the Big Four brotherhoods, now Get
proportonately increased daily pay
f-sr. --fr -
100 miles and in freight service get
tine and one-half for time consumed in
excess Of what would be required on
the guaranteed speed basis. which is
.wo and one-half miles an hour.
Swltchmen's Union of North Amer
ga: Foremen or conductors be in
creased from 1888 TO $3.50 q day and
s. night; helpers or brakemen be
increased from s. to 81 a day and $3.50
night; switch tenders to receive same
rate as helpers; time and ore-half for
Sundays and holidays.
Mechanics, Trackmen, Laborers
Maintenance Of Way and Engine
house Laoorers: Rate for al mechanics
IN the maintenance Of way department
10 be increased from basic rate Of SO
cents al hour TO uniform rate OF 6S
cents an hour: rate Of all trackmen and
other la5orers 10 be increased from
rates running from 2S cents 10 30 cents
an hour TO uniform rates throughout
the United States Of so cents an hour.
Most OF these employees now receive
between So and 40 cents an hour.
Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks: An
Increase Of at least 20 cents an hour,
retroactive 10 January !, 1920, and in
addition the establishment Of differ
entails between certain classes of en-
pioyees; also immediate elimination Of
the existing - cents an hour maximum
rate Tor fire ght handlers and other
labor in freight houses, storerooms,
etc, and time and one-half for Sundays
and holidays.
Order Of Railroad Photographers
That rates received by telegraphers on
the Southern Pacific system. which
we're said 10 be practically the highest
IN the country on any important rail
road, shall be taken IS a basis, the
rates Of all other telegraphers put on
the same basis. and then an increase of
Il cents an hour added to rates so
established; also increase to approx
mately IS cents an hour for employees
now generally receiving ST and To cents