The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-10-15
ROADS AGAINST
RATE REDUCTIONS
Decide 10 Ask Labor Board
TO Lower Wages.
TO CONFER WITH UNIONS
The Crisis Has Been Rendered More
Acute by Order to Restore Piece
Work

Chicago, oct. 1J.-There will be NO
immediate reduction in freight rates,
but the United States railroad labor
board will be petitioned at once to
further reduce wages Of employees, the
Association of Railway Executives an,
nounced after an all-daE meeting. A
committee will be appointed at once
to confer with the union leaders
Spouse to an invitation from the un-
ion heads for a conference:
F0reshadOwing a contest against
the proposed wage cuts. Warren S
Stone, grand chief of the brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, requested
a conference with the executives on
behalf of the six big railroad unions
which have voted to strike
Leaders of sixteen railroad unions
went in session at one hotel while
more than one hundred RAILROAD pres.
idents met at another.
The railroad presidents notified
Mr.. Stone by telephone his letter
would be considered at their meet
ing
The railroad crisis was rendered
more acute when the labor board
handed down a decision providing fol-
the restoration Of piece work. The
railroad presidents We're iulHlant,
while union leaders feared the effect
on their men, more than so per cent
Of whom have already voted to strike
rather than accept further wage re.
auctions or rules which they oppose.
The board handed down n supple.
mental decision, amending seventeen
more rules of the shop crafts agree.
ment. The opinion was given in the
case Of the Chicago and Northwest,
ern Railway company against the
railway employees department of the
American Federation of Labor With
the exception of the piece work order,
all the rules dealt with minor and
technical shop practices.
AS amended Rule No. l, relating to
piece work reads:
Eight hours shall constitute days
work All employees coming under
the provisions Of this agreement, eX.
cept as otherwise provided in this
schedule of rules. or as may hereafter
be legally established between the
carrier and the employee, shall be paiG
on the hourly basis.
This rule is intended to remove
the inhibition against piece work con-
tanned in rule No. l of the shop crafts
national agreement, and to permit the
question to be taken up for negotia,
ton on any individual railroad in the
manner prescribed by the transpor.
tation act"
None Of the brotherhood chiefs
would deny or confirm reports Octo-
Der 80 had been tentatively decided
on to begin calling out employees
Progress was temporarily halted IN
the brotherhood discussions, pending
the reply Of the executives to the re-
quest for a conference.
Meanwhile the remaining groups, In.
Guiding maintenance Of way, signal.
men, clerks, firemen and oilers and
other railroad unions, met to discuss
the situation.
With the removal of the piece work
ban the shop men were brought one
step nearer a strike. In August mem
bers of the six unions affiliated with
the railway employees department OF
the American Federation of Labor
voted to strike, as result Of the July
/ wage reduction. The call was held
up pending announcement by the
board Of its rules decision. Today's
decision permitting the roads to nego
tiate for piece work was accepted Of
a defeat by the shopmen, who have
opposed piece work strenuously-