The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-02
RAIL UNIONS NOT
 YET DECIDED IN
 REGARD ID CUTS
General Twelve Per Cent Re- duction Now Effective on Nearly Every Road In
 United States
By Associated Press

Chicago, July 1.-Railway union leaders were undecided on their final attitude towards the general 12 per
 cent wage reduction which became effective today on virtually every
 road in the country by order of thu United States Railroad Labor Board. Despite considerable dissatisfac-
 tionn displayed among many em- ployes, no reports of sporadic strikes or any serious threats of strikes
 were reported to the union chiefs here today.
 Approximately 1.5Oo delegates from system organizations of.the big four
 brotherhoods, the shop crafts, the
 maintenance of way mens telegraph
 CTS. clerks and switchmen met here
 today to canvass the situation. Heads
 of the big four and the sixteen Amer
 lean Federation of Labor unions held short meeting this morning. before the officers separated to convene the organization meetings.
 The executives meetings, it is said. took no action other than to place the entire wage situation in the hands of committee headed by B. M Jewell, president of the railway em- ployes' departNent of the American Federation of Labor The other members are E. H. Fitzgerald, pres ident of the brotherhood of railway and steamship clerks. freight hand
 lers, express and station employees l. E. Sheppard, president of the order of railway conductors; F. J. Manion.
 president of the order of railway telegraphers and Timothy Shea. vice president of the brotherhood of To- comotive firemen and engipemen.
 Demarcation Line Develops
 While there was no indication of dissension between the organizations over the wage reduction, a definite line of demarcation developed. The big four, acconding to Harry F. \ Daugherty vice grand chief of the engineers, were favorable to accept Ing the cut as 8 necessary evil" a1- though the brotherhoods might not indicate their attitude by any formal resolution of acceptance On the other hand, the shop crafts and mainten- ance of way men were said to be opposed to accepting the reduction. Both have taken referendum votes on the lower wage and both are reported to be heavily in favor of it's rejec- ton. The maintenance of way group, composed largely of section men. was the hardest hit of all railway employees in the wage reduction, the entire increase granted by the labor board in July 1920. being wiped out
 Separate meetings were held byl each of the brotherhoods today and a report of their action will be made at consolidated meeting of the big four tomorrow morning. The clerks, telegraphers and switchmen. whose general chairmen also met today, out lined their plans. but refused to make any announcement. Reports of all the | organizations will be made to thel committee of five in whose hands. 1t Is understood. final action is vNsted. 1
 Mir. Jewell tonight refused to make any prediction on how soon the con ference might be completed. or what the final action would be- He in- however. that all of the unions in his department and all the would unite in whatever action was taken and that their final decision would be unanimous for all employees