Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-21
COMP PAN|ES ACCEPT
DECISION; UNIONS
ARE DISSATISFIED
Brotherhoods Disappoint-
ed Because They Didn't
Receive Billion.
uNSKlLLED AND SEMISKlLLED
MEN GET BIGGEST BOOST
Railroads Pay Rolls, Totaling
$3,34o,ooo,ooo for 1920,
Double Amount in 1916.
VERDICT IS RETROACTIVE
S15,O00,0O0 Back Pay to Ro
Distributed by the Roads
August 4.
Iny Assoclnicd pr.s.l


CHICAGO. July 2O.-Whethcr tho
specter OF nationwide railway
strike has been laid by the $500. .O0O,-
coo wage increase granted today by
the United States Railway Labor
Board TO more than 100000 en-
pioyces toniSh: remained undecided.
brotherhood officials. after all-day
conferences made no attempt to con-
ccal their disappointment that they
did get all of the $1,000. 900 900
that they asked for. The belief grew.
however, in the absence of any talk
or an immediate strike that the union
officials would submit their award.
probably without recommendations
to referendum OF the men, y de-
cision on this point was promised
tomorrow by w. G. Lee. OF Cleveland.
grand president of the brotherhood
OF Railway Trainmen.
Unions VIII Act Deliberately.
There will be no Illegal, outlaw
rebel, sporadic or Immediate rail-
road strike, Mr.. Leo said. Whether
the railroad wage award is accepted
or rejected. the union action will be
concerted and deliberate."
The various brotherhood groups
conferred far into the night on tho
wage awards. but no announcement
was made by any of them as to what
action had been taken. Each group
VIII report at general meeting to-
morrow. at which it was expected a
decision would be reached on the
award
Railroad representatives accepted
the award philosophically. and imme-
dtately set about plans for passing
the 5000 O0O OOO addition ,,,ot.
, budget along to the ultimate con-
snper-in this case the man who
pays the freight.
Railroads Had Figures Ready.
Armed with reliable advance know,--
edge as to what the award would
provide, the railroads had their
figures ready. Judge r. NJ. Barton.
chairman OF the Railway Labor
Board. had hardly handed down his
decision when l.. II. Whittier, repre-
scnting the more than 100 railroais
involved. announced that the roads
would need an increase of is per cent
IN freight rates to meet the wage
boost. The Interstate Commerce.
Commission will be asked to spread
the inscrcasc over both freight and
passengers.
The SG00,ooo,oo0 award represents
an increase OF 81 per cent in the pay
OF the mon. For the first time in
history the railroads pay rolls this
year VIII pass the $4,000, ,OOO, 900
mark. MIR. Whittier estimated tho 1921
pay rolls at S3,3ii.000,0 900 moro than
double the s1,ti6.776,394 paid in 1916.
The boards award was made re-
troactirc TO May 81. With provisions
that back pay for thrco months falls
due August 1. when SIS. 900 Is to-
be distributed in addition to the
regular pay.
HiE h"oSt for Yard Service Men.
ara service engineers, nremen and
heipcrs. who received an hourly in
crease or is cents. Will get the big,
Sesi back pay checks. their threo
months award totaling s11o.1e.
In IT'S decision the board followed
the broad general policy laid down
by the Lane Commission, appointed
IN 1918. that the men who received
the least~,hould get the most. On n
percentage basis the biggest increase
went To the unskillod and semi-skilIed
labor. while the conductors, engineer,
and shop crafts. the socailed .aristo.
crhcy OF the roads," received small
percentages.
me ono notable exception to this
general rule was the yard seryico
men, whose Is cents an hour in.
crease topped all. others. Here. tbs
hoard explained the deciding factors
were the extreme hazard to life and
ii'nb and degree OF skill required.
Today's award IL il Is accepted br
the men. Will bring to close. at
ieast Tor the present tho board be.
iieves. the seemingly endless cycle OF
wage demands from the railroad
workers. Starting with the demands
OF 1916. which were met for a ime by
passage OF the Adamson law, therS
mas been almost continuous process.
sion az rail- unions before various gov.
ernment boards and commissions. all
demanding changes in pay.
Hesicsed With Demands.
When the government took control
of ths roads in December, 1917, IL
found pending requests from many
unions for more money. The Lana
commission responded with a gradu4