New-York tribune., 1921-06-16
I. R. II. Ia k e $
Up W age Gut
With Employees
Lower Living Expenses Are
Cited in Proposal to
Revise Present Scale
When 1t Expires Jan. /
Follows B. R. r. Example
Government Statistics Are
Quoted 10 Show General
Costs Have Been Reduced

Frank Hedley, president and general
manager of the Intcrborough Rapid
Transit, announced yesterday that he
had discussed with representatives of
the Interborough Brothe erhood down
ward revision of the wage scale. The
company has an agreement with its
men that expires next January /. The
management has asked the committee
of fifty-four that represents the en-
ployees to communicate to them the
company's desire for readjustment.
The publication of the fact that the
1nterborough management has been
discussing a wage reduction with the
workers came a day after a similar an
nouncen1ent from the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Offices in Brooklyn. Both com
panies give as the principal reason for
the proposed cuts the decreases in the
cost of living as Indicated by govern
ment statistics.
Mr. Hedley's statement auys:
"The present agreement between the
Management and the men of the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company ex-
pires as of January / next.
"The last increases in wages were
made by the Interborough Rapid Tran
sit Company in August, 1919, at which
time wages were increased 25 per cent
above the rates in the working agree
and in June, 1920, when wages were
increased 10 per cent above the rates
in effect on August /, 1919.
"The principle behind these adjust
ments of wages was the increasing cost
of living, which was, according to gov
ernment reports and statistics, at the
time of these adjustments at its high
est point, the company recognizing this
high cost of living as fact which had
I to be considered even in the face of an
existing working agreement.
Beginning practically with che date
of the last increase the reverse of this
has been true, and the cost of living,
as shown by the same government sta
tistics, has been steadily declining for
some time, q fact generally recognized
and admitted,
"For these reasons the management
Of the company has taken up in friend
ly discussion with the officers of the
organization representing the men the
matter of the revision of the present
working agreements some time between
now and their expiration, with view
to reaching a conclusion which, in the
IlgnC or the nnanclal condition OF the
company, will be to the best interests
of the employees themselves as we'll as
of the company"
What percentage OF the increases of
1919 the proposed Interborough reduc-
ton will represent has not been ascer-
tanned. 1t is not believed that the re-
duction will equal the increases of
June and August, 1919, which totaled
30 per cent
The general committee Of the broth
erhood is to find out what the feeling
Of the men is toward the wage cut,
with further conferences at the COM
pany's general Offices t. follow.
Az the office of the B. r. T. it was
said yesterday that it probably would
require two weeks to complete the
negotiations now being carried on by
department heads and committees rep
reeenting the men. The first confer
ence was held last Friday, it was
learned, and was with the subway con-
ductors and guards. On Tuesday repre-
scntatives of the mechanical depart
ment were consulted and yesterday the
way and structure men had hearing.
Tomorrow, according to the B. r. T.
officials, they will meet the platform
men and early next week the surface
car men.