The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-07-20
RAILROAD MEN
GE 7 INCREASE Of
\ 600 MILLIONS
Wage Board Findings Made Pub
lie This Morning
AVERAGE RAISE 81 P. C.
Not as Much as the Men Asked and
Brotherhood May Refuse to
Accept Award.

Chicago, July 20.-The United States
/ Railway Labor Board today awarded
two million organized railway workers
wage increases totalling six hundred
million dollars year increase. This
amounts approximately TO twenty one
per cent of the present rates of pay.
The board assumes as q basis OF
decision and awards q continuance in
full force and effect Of the rules, work
ing conditions and agreements in force
under the authority Of the United
States railroad administration.
The intent OF the decision is that the
named increase, except when other.
wise stated be added to the rates of
compensation established by the Fed.
Ieral railway administration. The
award is retroactive to May 1st OF this
year.
The decision grants the workers ap-
lproIimately sixty per cent of the bill
lion dollar increases sought. Presi.
dents OF the leading brotherhoods and
representatives Of the railroad mana
gers were present when the decision
was made public.
Whether the award will stave off
the threat OF q general strike remains
to be seen The leaders OF sixteen
big railroad unions present when the
decision was announced left immediat-
ely TO present the award to the thous-
and general ohairmen.
The maximum increase granted in
any class is eighteen cents per hour.
The demands Of the men who struck
Last April and formed new unions
were ignored.
Eighteen per cent increase in freight
rates is necessary to meet the award
r 7. Whittier, representative OF the
Railroads announced in the hearings
before the board He says the roads
will accept The belief grew that the
union leaders would submit the ques-
tlons TO a referendum vote of the men.
A feeling OF pessimism was eviden-
ced when the union leaders met and
privately they did not hesitate to de,
clare that general strike was pos
sibility. It is virtually certain that
union chiefs themselves would not call
a strike but would submit the question
Iot accepting or rejecting the boards
award to a referendum
The labor board began an investi-
CATION yesterday OF the looting OF its
offices, when some one broke In and
stole, among other things, a copy of the
award Two copies had been prepar-
ed, one for the boards files and the
.other for the printer. 1t was the form
.er which was stolen.
The printed copy covers 20 pages,
making about 5000 words in all
While an air Of doubt hung over the
railroad situation here, it was announ-
ced from Philadelphia, that the Pen
nsylvania railroad planned a 10 per
cent reduction in the working force
OF the road this week. The road S an
nouncement said that in the eastern
region alone between 11.00O and 10.
GOO workers would be laid off
Immediately upon the announcement
OF the award the grand council OF the
Brotherhoods was called, in the first
session in more than a year. Sixteen
groups OF railworkers VIII be repres-
ented and they will act upon the
award section by section. How long
the session will last is prob.ematical,
leaders said.
At the general meeting OF the union
heads yesterday at which Chairman
Peter kilduif Of the Engineers union
OF the Rock Island system was elected
chairman, credentials of all union re.
representatives. were carefully examined
before they were allowed to pass
through a closely guarded door
Secrecy shrouded the meeting and
newspaper men were not permitted to
attend
The only union leader here who was
outspoken concerning the situation
was s. E. Heberling, president of the
Switchmen's Union of North America.
He declared the unions were not
bound to accept the awards.
Asserting that he should not like
to see a general strike called" Mr..
Heberling said that with the switch
men asking a so per cent. increa1e a
compromise would hardly be accept
able"