The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-15
TO CUTR. R, WAGES
Notices To Be Posted by Rail-
roads Next Week.
Plan Must Be Approved by U. S.
Labor Board.

Chicago, Oct 15.-Notices to be
posted by railroads next week. an
nouncing another 10 per cent cut in
wages, effective in 80 days. will not
mean an immediate reduction on that
date, it was authOritatively stated in
railroad circles today. The railroads
do not intend to violate the transpor-
tation act clauses which provide for
appeal to the United States railroad
labor board, because to do so would
probably ALLEVIATE public opinion, rail
officials said.
The Plan As Announced.
The plan to be followed, as pro-
vided by the law, is:
The railroads will post their notices
announcing the cut in 80 days, and
then invite the union committees to
conferences to discuss the cut. In
event the union men refuse to accept
it, the dispute will then be referred
to the labor board for adjustment, the
cut being automatically suspended
until either approved or denied by the
board.
Decision by the board may take
from one to six months or even longer,
depending upon the amount of evil
dence taken and the condition of the
boards docket. The board now has
several hundred minor cases and the
very important rules and working con-
ditions dispute pending. In event the
on the docket, it might not be reached
before the first of the year, and as the
unions probably would present masses
of evidence in opposition, the hearing
probably would consume several
months.
The proposed 10 per cent cut would
bring wages back to practically the
same level as prevailed prior to July
2U1o20.
Fer the principal classes of labor
these schedules were:
Passenger service engineers (day),
Freight service engineers (dayl.
SE.60-$S.52.
Yard service engineers (day), $3.50
s+.0S.
Passenger service tjremen (day).
$1.00-$5.00.
i. !, Freight service riremen tday''
Yard service firemen tday), s5.16-
S43s
Yard service foremen day. $533.
Helpers (day), $500.
Switch tenders (day), $4.0o.
MachinistS (hour), 72c
Bonermakers (hourj, T2c.
BJacksmiths Chour), 72c.
Carpenters (hour) As.
Track laborers (hour) 40.
Section foremen (month) 500.
Yard firemen helpers Ohour) SO y
AAOSLAGAST OuIoAACI NodSJ SO.Ou
Hostlers, inside, (day) $5.535k.
Helpers (day) s5.53%.
Yard firemen helpers (hour) SO X q.
Sixteen Unions To Act.
The sixteen unions composing the
so-called standard group" which are
expected to act as unit, are: Broth
erhood of Railroad Trainmen, Brother
| hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen, Order of Railway Conduc-
tors, Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, Switchmen's Union of North
America; international Association of
Machinists. Sheet Metal Workers In
ternational Alliance; Brotherhood of
Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight
Handlers, Express and Station En-
ployes. Brotherhood of Stationary
! Firemen and oilers, Brotherhood of
Railway Signalmen of America. United
1 Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees and Railroad Shop Labor
/ ers. Order of Railroad Telegra piers,
| Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of
America, International Brotherhood of
! Electrical Workers, international
! Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Iron.
/ Shipbuilders and Helpers of America,
international Brotherhood of Black
smiths, Drop Forgers and Helpers.