The New York herald., 1921-09-19
RAILROAD SHOPMEN
Vote STRIKE over
WAGE REDUCTIONS
viii Defer Action Until
New Working Rules Are
Passed On by Labor Board.
BIG FOUR WILL HELP
Cooperation of Brother
hoods Certain, B. M. Jewell
Tells Mass Meeting.
CONDEMNS LABOR BOARD
Men Urged to Prepare for
Strike Call After Rules
Decision.

CHICAGO. Sept Railroad shop
men belonging to the six federated
shop crafts unions have voted to
strike against the general wage reduc-
tion of July /, 1921, but will defer any
action until the promulgation of work
ing rules now pending before the
United States Railroad Labor Board.
when another vote will be taken on
acceptance or rejection Of the rules
That announcement was officially
made by B. NJ. Jewell. head Of the shop
crafts organizations, at a mass meet
ing of Chicago shop workers to-day.
Belief that a stronger fight could be
made il strike is called. with preser-
walton Of the shopmen's working rules
as one Of the goals. led to the decision
to withhold strike call for tho pres
cnt. Mr.. Jewell said. He and other
union speakers counselled the men to
wait until the entire wage and rules
situation was before them, rather than
rush into strike which Mr.. Jewell
declared the railroad arrangements
desired.
I'VE can make a real fght on the
rules proposition when we might not
have the full support of other branches
of railway employees on wage fight
Alone Mr.. Jewell said. IF we want
to protect our best interests we must
wait until the time Is opportune. But
II the Labor Board releases all the
remaining rules TO be acted upon at
one time. their VIC will have the whole
matter before US. We will need only
one yote--to accept or reject the rules
Ito determine what w:ll be eone."
That announcement was greeted
witt, applause and uuestioners jumped
up In all parts OF the hall to press for
further details. Answering one ques-
ton. Mr.. Jewell asserted that the shop
crafts would have the cooperation Of
other organizations. including the big
four brotherhoods II strike were
called. and urged his audience to pre-
pare FOR action.
The strike vote. completed August !,
was announced as showing a consti-
tutionai majority against the wage
reduction which went into effect july
I. Tfat was the first official conhTms-
ton Q. the result. which has been
r'.mored for some time.
Condemnation OF tho operations OF
the Labor Board and OF its decisions
was voiced by all speakers at the
meeting. Mr.. Jewell charged that the
railroads were attempting to use the
board to take an unfair advantage
of the Industrial situation. Tho boards
method OF drafting rules to supplant
the national agreement. wartime
measure. under which the employees
work at present, was asserted to be
impractical because only seven Of the
1S6 rules have been substituted.
Mr.. Jewell said he would demand
Of the board that for once. II meet
a situation in practical way" and
announce the remaining rules stimuli
taneously instead OF piecemeal.
When the board announces the sub
stitute rules. our committee will take
ballot" Mr.. Jewell said. III the
rules are not satisfactory and the ballot
says 90. We win take the result OF
the railroads. II they refuse 70 grant
our reasonable demands. they win
have to stand responsible and answer
to the American people,"
y. p. Good, chairman OF the Penn
sylvania system federation OF shop
crafts, said he thought that the Penn
sylvania had been selected to make 4
fight for the open shop as the first stop
in such an agreement on all railroads.
Condemnation or the piece work sys-
TEN was made by Edward Tegtmeyer.
vice-president or the blacksmiths' union.
who said the attempt of the roads 20
reinstate piece work was an aggrava-
ton TO strike.
The railroads have been expecting
us TO strike he said. They want w
to strike so they can put us out Of busi-
meas. We want your suggestions ani
advice. and when the tiruc comes ito
your hats on: We're going down tho
line. and going all the way
General charges that the railroads
wore opposing demands or the unions az
part o! a movement which, Pres.den:
Jewell pojd. was backed by mine billion
dollars or more" were made. The object.
he said, was TO crush orgs snized labor"
Ho cited alleged unfair action by tie
railroads in Offering 70 negotiate rules
on each individual road and then failing
to agree. Only Ave agreements had
been completed among the 320 carriers
on which substitute rules we're 10 30
drafted. The unions seek TO retain the
present national agreements intact, and
the shopmen, according to the unio,
officials, will make harder fight for
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