The Mena weekly star., 1921-09-01
Al AZ PREPARING
 FOR RAIL STRIKE
x,;ff@r~nces Between Carriers and >r.<Eers at Critical Stage-Feder- sfed Shop Crafts Will Wait for
 Vote on Wage Reduction.

fh,eaco. Aug. 2S.--Preparations <.z zz<ike of 2 million railroad work | 7.<- if the country were under way TAI nirht by both union leaders and e.nuloyers.
 e24;ars differences between the .1z.,ads and their workers over 5 .,44.4. and hours of work have s.oeh.,3 such a critical point that Iaaaers of the workers organizations daxe warned their members to get Fl. 1yz strike, and railroad man agers are arranging to meet the <1lsrGency.
 Strike vote has been taken by snlv one branch of the railroad work 4r&---the federated shop crafts with S!] ]1l3o members. Heads of this n,,ion have carried strike vote arou1d in their pockets since thq ~apc cuts of last July, and the re- tanf decisions of the federated rail- { 'rd'l6 labor board that all Sunday work must be paid at regular rates, ;0<f64d of as overtime unless done in Sf1 Emergency, has led the flashing of thH vote.
 Avail Decision of Big Four"
 The federated shop crafts will not 1Sll q strike, however, until the vote 6f the Big Four" railroad brother hoods. on the question of accepting a ,vae6 reduction or calling a strike, is takea Union leaders here in touch xith the railroad labor situation pre- dicre1 the wage cut would be reject .e.<l IA large vote of the Big Four" bfotherhood membership and that a strike will be ordered unless the rail- rc4f Management makes further con- eeSsions.
 The federated shop crafts have or defed their membership to get their h0Uee in order for a walkout. The nISn have been instructed to lay in suu11ies of food, save their money and xe{ fheir local union organizations in Strong condition. Railroads in meet inx the strike threat have started u17tti7g their shops in the hands of I6c&I business men and putting them or 6x ''open shop" basis. By placing fhefr shops under the direction of or &1nfzations which are not carriers, <6S Railroads technically escape rul- ju&4 of the United States railroad Mh0f board, as the shops do not come uI6r the boards jurisdiction when ] TT Actually operated by the roads.
 hal of some railroads, notably the
 sylvania, to comply with orders IT le board demanding that working &&I&cments be drawn up at confer &u1&s between union representatives &1} the employers has further irri- X<60 the men.
 Instructed to Stay at Work.
 He federated shop crafts have &o13ht conference with the railroad I&NAgement in an attempt to nego- fi1<t the boards ruling regarding {4a<time for Sunday work. In case fhe Employers refuse to negotiate the ..$<<< s...$<<<< crafts will be ready to strike. Hen have been instructed by B. M. Jewell, president of the railroad de- p&ffment of the American Federation o< labor, to stay at work until an at t<11pt is made to carry on the nego- fi&<jons.
 I1 the meantime the Big Four" VIII be taking their strike vote and Ell entire situation will hang on the 0u<come of this sounding out of senti- 1zseft of the railroad workers.
 Pennsylvania Shopmen Walkout.
 With an unauthorized walkout of f<1nsylvania railway shopmen in U7NEinnati early in the day putting
 m on the alert, Chicago union
 16ers were keeping the wires hot iu pn effort to prevent runaway skEikes at other points throughout the c001try.
 Within a few minutes after our o3[<e was informed of trouble in Gin kI1ati," said Mir. Jewell, i've had l1f>e men from nearby cities headed {A4E way. Their instructions were to xet the men back on the job, leaving the settlement of grievances to proper 11Eborities.
 heard from two of these men aft tf they arrived in Cincinnati. They had arranged a meeting with the men and believed the shopmen would fetnrn to work. The walkout was ab- SQIutely unauthorized"
 R. STRIKE BALLOTS READY