The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-18
RAIL BOARD WILL
REVISE DOWNWARD
PAY OF UNSK|LLED
Similar Decision In Case Of
Skilled Men Would Affect
Two Million Men, Is
Claimed

by Associated Press
Chicago, May 1.-THE United
States railroad labor board late to-
day announced its intention of revis-
ing downward the wages of more than
l 100000 unskilled rail workers, eff
fective July l. The amount of de-
crease will be made public June /.
At the same time the board an
nounced that it would hold hearings on
June regarding proposals by the
roads to decrease the wages of other
classes of employees and would also
make its decision in these cases eff
fective on the same date. A similar
decision in the case of skilled workers
would mean cut in the pay of prac-
ticaily every railway worker in the
country on July and would affect
approximately 100000 men. it was
pointed out.
The announcement today, which said
that prevailing conditions justify to
some extent, yet to be determined, a
readjustmeift downward of wages
was entirely unexpected and came
only a few hours after the close of the
hearings which have been in progress
since early in April. Neither the roads
nor the representatives of the unlons
had expected any announcement fol
several weeks.
INCREASED IN JULY
On July 20, 1920, the board rendered
a decision increasing the pay of al
classes of railway employees approx.
mately 81 per cent or about $500, 000,-
900 a year
Several months ago several roads
announced that they could not longer
operate under this wage award ant
announced reductions averaging about
20 per cent for unskilled employees
The workers appealed to the board
which decided that the roads could mo-
make summary reductions, but mus
first hold conferences with their mer
and theR if no agreement could b.
reached, submit the case to the boarc
for decision.
Practically every large road in the
country then held conferences with its
unskilled employees regarding reduc-
tions and when the employees refused
to accept the cuts, carried the case tt
the board Nearly a hundred cases in
all were thus appealed and the board
finally decided to hear them as a uni
OF separately.
In presenting their case thea roads
pleaded that they were being forced
&c pay more for labor than they could
employ in the open market; that this
decrease of living costs warranted a
decrease In waves, that they We're be-
ing foaced to operate in mans cases III
loss and that they wished to reduce
their rates for the benefit of the public
but could not do so at present wage
rates.
CHARGE MISMANAGEMENT
The employees in reply charged that
the financial embarrassment Of the
roads was due TO gross mismanag nj
and that the wages paid rail workers
were still below those paid in other
lines OF industry. Employees maintained
workmen should receive living wage
and introduced statistics to determine
such a wage.
Todays announcement that the board
felt that prevailing conditions" justi-
fled revision downward in wages. was
The first indication of its attitude on
the wage question. Railway officials
tonight expressed themselves as being
pleased at the boards statement and
expressed the opinion that the sans
condition which was applied to UNI
skilled would also be applied to skilled
workers. Representatives Of the EN-
ployes refused to comment on tn,
boards announcement until they had
time to study it carefully.
UNION HEADS SILENT
Cleveland, May 17.-Heads of the
railroad brotherhoods who are in Cleve
land refused to comment tonight on
the announcement of the United States
railroad labor board.
I'VE will have nothing to say unit
we receive the final decision of thc
board" w. G. Lee, president of tho
Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen
said. Our convention is in session and
1T will do our talking. declared War
rem S. Stone, grand chief of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers.
The engineers convention last Fri
Gay unanimously adopted a resolution
opposing any wage reductions OF
changes in working conditions and in
structed it's officers I'd "use the full
force of the organization TO put into
effect this resolution"
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