The Washington times., 1920-04-18
CLAIMS WOULD TOTAL
375 MILLION A YEAR

The equalization of wages demand
ed by the 100000 railroad workers
whose claims are now before the
newly organized Labor Board would
cost the railroads approximately
1915, 100000 a year, according TO the
calculations of statisticians employed
by the railroad unions.
The railroad companies claim IL VIII
mean an additional outlay OF $1,000
900. 900 next year.
The equaIizations demanded by the
Order OF abroad Telegraphers alone
would cost the railroads approx
mately $13,0OO.O 900 year, according
to the unions and the II par cent IN
crease in rates demanded by the EN-
ployes in this organization would
mean S36, 600. 900 per year additional.
On demands of the workers, on the
settlement Of which depends future
peace in the railroad industry, are as
follows summarized:
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
Base claims largely on the coSt OF
living and contend that wages PAID
do not constitute a living wage. ASK
twenty six-day month instead OF
thirty-day month be made basis OF
pay and that following increases snail
be granted: Passenger brakemen.
$120 to $3.50; baggagemen, $l24So TO
$3.50; assistant conductors, $l44 to
s179; freight brakemen. S4.OS per day
to $5.SS with 10 per cent increase over
those rates wherever grade exceeds
1.S per cent: yard foremen or conduc-
tors. $3.50 per day to $7.20; yard
helpers or brakemen, 50 per day to
$6; switch tenders, 81 per day to
$500. Also time and half overtime
for all sunday and all holiday service
for all classes of employees.
Switchmen's Union - Foremen or
conductors demand increase OF $o.3o
per: day and night to $3.50 per day
and So per night; helpers or brake
men, IS per day or night to $3.50 per
night and 81 per day: switch tend
ers to receive same as helpers. Time
md half for Sundays and holidays.
Increases based on cost Of living.
hopmen-Demand increase OF ap-
proxirnately S5 cents per hour for emf
ployes now generally receiving u
cents and ~ cents per hour. De-
mands based largely on the cost OF
living and on claim that similar EN-
ployes in outside industries are re-
ceiving higher wages.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Eiremen
and Engineer--Demand $1.S5 per day
increase over present rates for road
freight firemen; an average OF va
over present rates for yard freight
fremen, and increase for passenger
fremen from the present average rate
of S4.31 per day to $3.50. Base de-
mands on claim that they have not
had increases proportionate to those
granted shopmen.
Brotherhood of Railroad Clerks
Increase of at least 20 cents per hour
retroactive to January ], 1920, and
the re-establishment of diferentials
between certain classes of employees.
Immediate elimination of the 43 cents
per hour maximum rate established
BY present wage orders for freight
handlers and other labor in freight
houses, etc. Base demands on claim
that clerks have not received in
creases equal to those granted shop
men and telegraphers.
Maintenance of Way Employees and
Shop Laborers-Increase in rate for
all maintenance of way mechanics
from basic rate of So cents per hour
to uniform rate of 6S cents per hour.
Rates for trackmen and other labor
ers to be increased from rates rang
ing from 30 cents per hour to 40
cents per hour to a uniform rate of
so cents per hour. Bulk of men now
receive between 35 and 40 cents per
hour.
Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
ginecrs-Make no specific demands
for increases, but has served notice
that engineers will insist on increases
proportionate to any increases grant
ed other employees.
Railroad Signalmen--1ncreas OF 10
cents per hour for each class of sig
nal employees.
Railroad Telegraphers - Demand
that rates received by telegraphers
on Southern Pacific-the highest in
tho United States--be made basis OF
rates paid all employees. and increases
Of II cents per hour added to rates
so established.