Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-21
STRIKE MENACE ISN'T
REMOVED BY RAIL
MEMS WAGE INCREASE
Continued from Page One)

from the shop crafts asking That
he add another $500, 100000 to the
wage budget to meet the rising cost
of living. The request hung fire
for many months. In August OF
last year President Wilson appealed
to the men to wait and give the
government a chance to reduce the
cost Of living. They waited until
this year. then pressed their re-
quests again.
Again the matter was deferred,
as federal control of the roads was
about to end. In February congress
passed the transportation bill pro
viding new machinery in the labor
board to deal with the case but it
was not until the board was APP
pointed on April IS, that work was
begun.
This long delay and succession
of disappointments, coupled with
the pressure of a further rise in
living costs produced deep and
not unreasonab BILE dissatisfaction on
the part of railroad employees who
ielt themselves called upon to make
sacrifices, as they believed, far be-
v
board said in its report
ut is clear that the cost of liv-
ing in the United States has in
creased approximately 100 per cent
since 1914" the decision added.
I'm many instances the increases to
employees herein fixed, together
with prior increases granted since
1914, exceed this figure. The cost
of living and wages paid for sim
liar kinds of work in other indus
tries, however, differ as between
different parts of the country. Yet
standardization of pay for railway
employees has proceeded so far ana
possesses such advantages that it
was deemed ineXpedient and i'm
practicable to establish new varia-
tons based on these varying condi-
tons.
THE board has endeavored to fix
such wages as will provide a de-
cent living and secure for the child
rem of the wage earners opportun-
ity for education and yet to remem-
Der that no class of Americans
should receive preferred treatment
and that the great mass of the peo-
PIE llUSl pay q tIS''
part Of the increased cost of opera
ton entailed by the increase of
wages determined herein.
Those persons who consider the
rates determined on too high
should reflect on the abnormal con-
ditions resulting from the high
cost of living and the high rates
now being paid in other industries.
The employees who may believe
these rates too low should consider
the increased BURDEN these rates
will place on their fellow country
men, many of whom are less ia
vorably situated than themselves. '
An analysis of the decision shows
the $500, 900, 900 increase will go to
the larger classes of employees IN
substantially the following basis:
Railway clerks and freight hand
lers, 5000 900.
Maintenance Of way employees,
$3.50, POS, 200.
Engine and trainmen, s157,OO0,-
| 900.
Railway shopmen, $1S9,2S7,000.
The remainder will be divided
among the station employees, yard
men and dispatchers and marine
employees on tugs, ferries and other
railroad owned harbor boats.
Nearly $4,000 employees of the
American Railway Express COM
pany are not included within the
provisions of todays award, The
board will open a hearing Thurs
day to pass on their demands. Only
blacksmiths, electricians and other
shop employees Of the express COM
pany, some $500 in number, are
affected by today's decision.
The problem of the railroad
men who Joined the new unions
last April and struck for immedi-
ate increases also remains un-
solved. The labor board maintained
its stand that the strikers violated
the transportation act by walking
out without first submitting their
grievances and that therefore the
case of the strikers was not before
the board. No reference to the new
unions is made in the decision. but
the preamble specifically names
eighteen recognized organizations
as being parties thereto on behalf
ON the men.
John Grunau, president of the
Chicago Yardmen's association.
parent body of The new unions, to-
day branded the boards award as
inconsistent and unsatisfactory
and announced that 1t had been
rejected by the delegates represent
ing the union. The principal de-
mands Of the unreeognized unions,
self styled ''vacationists, was for
restoration to the positions they
had left, with full seniority rights
and 81 an hour pay.