The New York herald., 1921-08-20
SHOP CRAFT RULES
SPLIT LABOR BOARD
Wharton Issues First Minority
Report i'm Protesting Rail
way Wages Cut.
TRAINMEN NOT AFFECTED
Emergency Workers Assert Or
der Will Reduce Pay I'm
der Pre- War Basis.

CHICAGO. Aug 1s.-The United states
Railroad Labor Board to-day approved
in effect the sVen shopcraft rules re-
lating to overtime payment as provided
In the national agreement of the war
time Railroad Administration. but d.
rected that the railroads need not pay
overtime for absolutely necessary work
performed on Sundays and holidays.
For the first time in the history OF
the board minority member made pub
lie dissenting report. A. Q. Wharton
formerly president Of the railroad divi-
sion of the American Federation Of La
bor. insisting on recognition Of the ma
tional agreement rules without change.
The majority report was signed by
Judge H. M. Barton and the other nve
members, t.o of whom represent the
public two the roads and one the unions
One hundred and thirty-seven rail-
roads IN NIL parts of the country, m
Guiding the American lines OF the Cana
dian-Grand Trunk system: the railway
employees department OF the American
| Federation of Labor and the six feder-
atcd shop crafts. are affected by to-day
decision The decision probably will be
applied TO all other lines as fast as tneir
cases come before the board.
'The Railroad Labor Board has de-
cided," the majority report says, that
the seven rules approved by the board
corresponding to the seven rules OF the
national agreement. are just and reason
able, and that they shall apply to each
of the carriers set out under the cap
tion Parties to the Dispute except In
such instances as any particular carrier
may have agreed with its employees
| upon any one or more of said rules; In
which case the rule or rules agreed
upon by the carrier and It's employees
shall apply on said road"
/ Seven Rules Are Involved.
Seven rules affecting the overtime pay
of the shop employees on 137 roads are
involved in to-day's decision. The roads
appealed for modification of the nationa
agreement rules, entered into during wal
time Railroad Administration, and the
majority modified certain ones. Among
the changes the majority ruled that:
Employees regularly called for Sun
day and holiday work and performing
tasks absolutely necessary for continu
Gus operation Of the roads shall not re-
eeve time and half, but only pay or
the same basis as for week days. Nc
i work not absolutely necessary is to be
performed on Sundays.
Employees at the completion of eigh,
hours work may be required to work
two hours overtime before being released
for meals instead of one hour. as now
provided.
Employees called for work and mol
working. or called for work and work.
ing two hours and forty minutes or less
will be paid for four hours overtime
/ instead OF five hours under existing
rules
Employees called one hour or less be
/ fore their regular time will be paid time
and one-half for the overtime instead
of the present five hours allowance.
When called away from home will no.
be allowed overtime for hours spent
sleeping provided they receive at leas
five hours relief out Of every twenty
four.
Employees regularly assigned to per
form road work and paid on a monthly
basis will compute their salaries on tht
basis of 243 hours month. instead Of
| the present 263 hours, with no overtim,
| allowed for hours worked in excess oi
! eight a day, and no time deducted foi
/ less than eight hours work. unless the
! employee lays off Of his own accord.
The dissenting opinion of A. o. Whar-
ton was a surprise. as the policy fol
lowed by the board since Its inception
year and half ago has been te
thresh out all disputes in executive ses-
sion and present the majority decision
as a unanimous report. Mr.. Wharton
was particularly interested In this case
as he was the president Of the railway
employees department OF the American
Federation of Labor at the time Presi.
dent Wilson appointed him to the
| board.
Mr.. Wharton objected to the rule
which fixes the salary basis OF en-
ployees engaged in emergency road
work as 2t3 hours a month, while the
unions claimed a salary basis of rs
hours, including Sundays and seven hol
idays during the year. The unions con
tended the emergency employees were
i'm effect on duty twenty-four hours 9
day 365 days year because they are
subject to call at any time.
Sees Extra Cut Of s15 Month.
"The boards decision" Mr.. Wharton!
opinion says. means that in addition e