Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-11
EIGHT ROADS ORDER
CUTS IN WAGES.
Three Systems in East and
Five in West Announce
Reductions
AFFECTED
\ Y. Certrars Plan Excludes Mem
bers Of Big Four Brotherhoods--
No Date Fer Conference.

New York, March II. Eight more
ilroads yesterday joined in the
bvement to- revise wages started
ednesday by the Pennsylvania
ousands of workers will be affected
the reductions planned by the
Ids, three in the East, and five in
. z West.
Those in the East are the New
rk Central, the New York. New
hven and Hartford and the Philadel
Ea and Reading. Practically every
pd having headquarters in Chicago
bounced Its intention of following
Pennsylvania lead, the list in
ding Santa Fe, Chicago, Milwaukee
h st. Paul, Chicago and Great
estern, Chicago. Rock Island and
Bcific and the Chicago and North
kstern.
THE reductions on the New York
eptral and the New Haven, sched-
ed for April 10, affect about $4,000
en- all told, in addition to the $4,000
eviously notified of like intention.
the Philadelphia and Reading
hut e5.00O unskilled workers will
included.
Dispatches from Chicago said that
Western roads planning the re-
ction first will hold conferences
tn employees and if the roads and
lrkers ale unable to agree ON the
l,pctions .lthe disputes will be. car
ed to the Railroad Labor Board.
The employees on the New York
'entral and New Haven affected rank
pm office boys to chief clerks and
Ice foremen in all classes. The
bposed plan, however, does not in
de men actually engaged in the
Grafton on trains, telegraphers, sta
n agents and the higher executives
lFhe>men for the most part atfert-
are members of the shop crafts,
led as skilled men, and the 'rts
bposed range from 5 cents an hour
the case of office boys and messen-
rs to Is cents an hour for mechan-
engaged on section work. The
esent hourly wage for men rated
mechanics is not less than IS cents
hour, 50 that the proposed mln.-
Inn rate will not be less thar Y
hts for this class.
This rate of 72 cents an hour Is
raie prevailing for men carried
mechanics prior to the award oil
Railroad Labor Board of Jc.y 20,
TO- This award carried increases
nging from 5 to % 1-2 cents on
ur and represented an increase IN
railroad labor bill Of roughly
DO. 900 900.
lit is n,w the intention of the rail-
|ad managers to wipe out this m
tease in their wage bill and vo!rH
rily submit to a reduction in rates
at will decrease their gross rave
hes by a like amount, trusting tn-the
crease IN business lowrr rates VIII
hing and economics in other lines to
Ing up ne. revenues to point
here railroad. operation will De
pfitable.
This cut Of s6Oo,OOO,OOo a year is
largest wage cut ever sought rF
American industry. With it goes
proposal that the national agree
hts made BY the Railroad Admin
ration and the railroad unions be
blished permitting, according to
neral w. W. Atterbury, spokcs-
N for the roads, saving OF an
Eitional s30O,000,000.
Failure to include the men in the
g Four" brotherhoodS, the engi-
RS, trainmen, conductors and fire
b, telegraphers, station agents
hig Ter eXec"ti:'s in ,he notices
ued was explained by spokesman
the roads as meaning that the
bmpanies proceeded to do every
ng in order" He further ex.
med that mo difficulty was ex.
ted with the brotherhoods, wht
unusually skilled men,"
the notice no date is set for con
ences. Instead, the management
rely gives notice that such confer
.es ar, desired and says the head
the various departments will Civ
ice of the time and place of ii
kting to which it desired the me
representatives.
announcing the move the MAJ