The New York herald., 1921-03-31
RAIL BOARD ASKED
TOCUT WAGES OF
UNSKILLED LABOR
Immediate Relief Is Sought
by New York Central. IF
fectiye April |.
QUICK DECISION EXPECTED
Other Glasses Of Workers Now
Being Urged TO Accept De-
creased Scale.
QUICK DECISION EXPECTED

CHICAGO. March 3O.--Provisional re-
duction Of the wages OF approximately
$4,000 uuskilled workmen on the New
York Central Railroad, to be effective
April /. was asked of the railroad
labor board to-day. Immediate relief
from the present rates was sought
pending a hearing on permanent re
duction later.
The unskilled lator dispute came be-
fore the board after conferences with
employees early this month had failed
to reach an agreement on any Wage
deductions. The case is the first brought
by a carriey. and is considered, in rail
road circles. as the first move on the
part Of the trunk lines TO cut their
rayrolls.
The railroad appeared prepared TO
submit extensive data on wages in
other similar industries and on the cost
OF living but the board decided to con-
fine the present case 10 the question OF
immediate reductions.
Railroad representatives then pre-
sented a mass OF statistics showing tht
rates paid for similar labor in other
industries and the case was concluded
with a decision expected b. the eni
Of the week
During the testimony OF J. Aronson
counsel for the New York Central. :.
0. Wharton, labor member Of the board.
Inquired into the proposed reduction and
INQUIRED Why the unsk!iled labor elias
waa selected for cut.
Other classes or employees who re-
ceived increases under ths wage award
last year are being called in 70 confer
wage reductions Mr.. Aron-
son said. 1--WE are holding conferences
this week with clerical. mechanical ana
signal employees and are considering
reductions for yard service men. also.
..The railroads under the law have the
duty OF operating efficiently and eco
nonlicallv." Mir. Aronson continued.
THE management feels that the down.
ward trend OF business makes IL neces-
sary to submit evidence 70 this board
asking an adjustment or wages"
Before the railroad testimony was I'm
ished. b NJ. Jewell. speaking for the
employees made a brief answer to the
request. declaring i would pe
without precedent for the board 70 &C
puicsce in the New York centrars re-
quest.
Nh. Aronson replied that the cost of
living had shown q steady downward
trend for nearly a year and that
similar trend in wages Of other indus
tries also was noticeable Traffic rates,
he said. could not be determined for
any length of time and the present rates
were wholly inadequate. he contended.
Reductions OF II TO 81 per cent. were
proposed in various classes OF unskilled
Ia bof on the New York Central, and
comparison with common labor in other
industries was made BY NJ. A. McClory.
statistician for the road. Maintenance
of way employees. he said, would be
reduced from 45-Sia cents an hour TO
S3-Sj cents.
Wage scales Of go and 1921 in two
score cities OH the New Yo.k Ccntrai
we've submitted 10 show tho compala-
tive pay in other industl les Tor common
u Dor. Decreases or approximately -
per cent were shown to be the aver.
end New York city. IN the lattct'a
suburbs decreases az high as 90 per
cent. were recorded. and in Buffalo ard
Amsterdam. y. y. decreases were
around % per cent.
Twenty-Five per cent. decreases were
shown TO be the average in Cleveland,
Alliance. roleCo. and Fort Wayne. IND.
several points including Syracuse.
Rochester. Dunkirl, Ontario. n H.. and
Eric, all reported a. having decreases
avera sing - per cent.