The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-23
RAILMEN FIGHT
WAGE REDUCTION
Cut in Scales Made by Railroad
Executes Exceed Half
Billion Yearly.
sv HARRY HUNT.

BY HARRY HUNT.
WASHINGTON. oct, 2s.--Six hun
dred million dollars in annual wages
IA the stake FOR which railway work
ers have declared TO strike Oct. 80, for
the e-establishment OF wage sched-
rles in effect during the last half OF
1890 and the first six months of 1921
More than $500, 900, 900 or over hall
this sum, already has been ordered
stricken from the rail workers pay
ron. This was by the decision or this
railway labor board, effective July !
1921, cutting wage schedules OF rail
workers an average Of about ~ per
cont
The remainder, aggregating about
$3.50 000. 900, is tho further reduction
the railway executives have an
nounced their intention OF asking,
even In the face OF the strike vot@
ia simple terms, the strikers are de-
ananding the maintenance OF wage
schedules established by the rail-
board in 1920. while the railroad exec
utives are seeking the return Of rail
pay to tho basis established by the
United states Railroad administration.
There exists general feeling that
the strike call Is rather DOR the purpose
OF frustrating the executives plans
Tor a further reduction than In the
hope of gaining reconsideration for
the reductions already ordered.
Average Figures on Railway Wages.
How tho wages Of the various class
s IS Of railway labor are affected By
the recent reductions, against which
the strike was called. is shown by the
following average figures on rail pay:
Passenger engineers under the
scales which the brotherhood seek to
have retained average $2SS a month.
The new scale would cut their pay As
cents a day, or s14.40 monthly. leaving
an average Of s2Ts The monthly rate
under the railway administration av-
eraged 1888, while the average prior to
government operation in 1917, was
s1S6
Freight engineers who under the
award Of July 90. averaged s275
monthly, draw only an average OF
$3.50 under the July 1921 scale Under
government operation these men av-
eraged $3.50. while In 1917 their aver
age was s175. The reduction against
which they strike Is 81 cents day.
through run, was 1919 on passenger
trains and 1902 on freights. under the
maximum scale. The reduction order
"a IL d 4s cents a day for passenger
firemen and ga cents for freight which
would bring their monthly pay down
20 about 1905 and $3.50 respectively.
Under government operation these
men drew an average Of 1884 and $166,
while prior to government control they
averaged S112 and sos respectively.
Monthly Pay Of Other Classes.
Average monthly pay or other class
es, for which the men are, striking.
same bling the scales fixed BY the rail-
road labor board IN 1920, ere: passen-
ger conductors S257; baggagemen.
1897; flagmen and bralSeraen, $3.50:
freight conductors $247: freight brake
men S1s4; yard foremen s1s4; yard
helpers 1881; switch tenders 1883;
yard engineers $500; and lnostlers S1T6.
Reductions against which the men
have voted to strike. cali for cutting
the pay OF passenger conductors. bag
Eagomen flagmen and brakemen, SIS
per month; OF freight service employees
and yard hostier help Ga cents a day.
How $6O0,Oo0,O0O Cut Is Reached.
The total or decreases running
through all the shop and clerical
forces. contained in the downward re-
vision Of the iant wage order. has
been variously estimated at between
three hundred and four hundred mill
lion dollars. on the basis OF present
railway employment, however, $780,
10000 IA believed about correct.
The board itself estimated the in
crease OF July, 1920. TO have added six
hundreI millions to the annual rail
payroll which leaves another $780,
00O,000 which the executives urge be
Topped off.
Total rail froces which would be az
fectcd BY a general railway strike
woaid approximate 100000, as fol-
lows:
Engine service employees, 1860
Train service employees, $4,000.
shop employees $4,000.
Maintenance of way and unslxilled
labor. $4,000.
Clerical and station forces, 354. 000.
photographers, ETC., 1900.