New-York tribune., 1920-07-21
Rail Unions
Talk Strike.
Despite Raise


the transportation bill providing new
machinery, IN the Labor BOARD, to deal
with the case, but it was not until the
board was appointed, on April IL, that
work was begun.
"This long delay and succession Of
disappointments, coupled with the
pressure of further rise in living
costs, produced deep and not unreason-
able dissatisfaction on the part of rail-
road employees, who felt themselves
called on to make sacrifices, as they be-
lieved, far beyond that of any other
Glass;" the board said in Its report.
Board Explains Policy
at is clear that the cost of living in
the United States has increased approx
imately 100 per cent since 1914" the
decision added. "ln 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 similar
kinds of work in other industries, how
ever, differ as between different parts
of the country. Yet Standardization
of pay for railroad employees had pro-
ceeded 80 far and possesses such ad-
vantages that it was deemed inexpedi-
ent and impracticable to establish new
variations based on these varying con-
ditions.
The board has endeavored to fix
such wages as will provide a decent
living and secure for the children of
the wage earners opportunity for edu-
cation, and yet to remember that no
class OF Americans should receive pre-
TERED treatment and that the great
mass Of the people must ultimately nav
great part of the increased cost of
operation entaied by the increase of
wages determined herein.
Burden on All People
Those persons who consider the
rates determined on too high should
reflect on the abnormal conditions re-
sulting 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 coun-
trymen, many of whom are less favor
ably situated than themselves"
An analysis of the decision shows
that. the S600,000,000 increase will 60
to the larger classes of employees on
substantially the following basis:
Railway clerks and freight handlers,
1929 900, 900.
Maintenance of way employees, $780,
29s,00O
Engine and train men, $157,OOO,000.
Railway shopmen, $3.50, ,237 900.
The remainder will be divided among
the station employees, yardmen and
dlspatchers, and marine employees on
tugs, ferries and other railroad owned
harbor boats.
Express Line Not Affected
Nearly $4,000 employees of the
American Railway Express Company
arc not included within the provisions
of the award The board will open a
hearing on Thursday to pass on their
demands. Only backsmiths, elec-
tricians and other shop employees of
the express company, some $500 in
number, are affected by to-day's de-
cision.
The problem Of the railroad men who
joined new unions last April and struck
for Immediate increases also remains
unsolved. The Labor Board maintained
its stand that the strikers violated the
~ A"ho pOA Va IlOh dCC ny waking Out
without first submitting their griev.
ances 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 of the mon.
Grunau Rejects Award
John Grunau, president of the Chi
cago Yardmen's Association, parent
body of the new unions, issued q state.
ment to-day branding the boards
award as "inconsistent and unsatis.
factory" and announced that it had
been rejected by the delegates repre-.
serting the union. The principal de.
mand of the unrecognized unions, self.
styled "vacationists," was for restora
ton to the positions they left, with
full seniority rights and 81 an hour
pay The roads have maintained the
strikers forfeited their rights wher
they quit work, and in this stand have
had the support Of the recognized
brotherhoods.
The question Of rules under which
this dispute falls has not yet beer
taken up by the board, but as soon a.
the express employees wage case IL