The Connecticut labor news., 1921-08-05
RAILROAD CLERKS DRAMATICALLY DENY TAKING WAGE CUT Regard Bardo's Statement They Had Done So as More Pro-
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What they regard as another at tempt on the part of the New Haven Roard to becloud the wage issue, is resented by the railroad clerks or sanitation of the system following a statement issued by General Manager Bardo Wednesday that the clerks and station employees had agreed to accept reduction of $3 per week in wages from July l. The reduction was the first to be announced by the railroad but the announcement hadn't grown cold before the clerks and station em- ploycs promptly came back with a denial and declare that they are working under the reduced rate, arbi- trarily put into effect by the railroad, under protest" The clerks state mcnt is as follows:
 An emphatic denial is made by the undersigned, representing the Brotherhood of Railway and Steam ship Clerks, Freight handlers, Ex- press and Station Employees on the New York, New Haven X Hartford Railroad with respect to article ap- bearing in local newspaper on the afternoon of August 3, that an agree ment had been concluded with Gen eral Manager C. l.. Bardo to accept lower rates of compensation and overtime pay, for the clerical forces and station employees, effective July L.
 "Thc facts are that the member- ship has pointed out to their gen eral committee that increases grant ed by the labor board under it's de cision No. ,, issued in July, 1920, were based upon statistics compiled by the department. of labor on liv ing costs for the six months period ending December 3I, 1919. The cost of living has advanced from the end ing of the six month period Decem- Der 3I, 1919, to the ending of the six month period June, 30, 1920, over I6 per cent. and the decision Dor board authorizing wage increases, was not in accord with the transport tation act of 1920, as it did not take into consideration the actual living cost at the time the decision was pro- mulgated The living costs for the six month period ending June 30, 1921, is generally admitted to have reduced approximately I6 per cent, as compared with living costs as of July, 1920, but there has been no re- duction in living cost as compared with figures compiled by the depart ment of labor for the period ending December 3I, 1919. The facts cited above show no reduction in living costs for the period on which the la bor board based it's decision on just and reasonable wage and there can be no justification to warrant any reduc- ton in rates of pay for railroad em- ployes.
 "Under these circumstances the committee representing the clerks organization cannot assume the re- sponsiblity of accepting the recent wage reduction and the entire mat ter will be referred to the member ship by referendum ballot for ac- ceptance or rejection.
 "In order to correct any wrong i'm pressions that the above mentioned article may create as. to tn eactlon of the clerks organization on the below my letter of July 25, 1921, ad- dressed to General Manager C. l.. Bardo:
 "I am authorized to advise that the employees represented by this brotherhood contend that there can be no justification to warrant the reduction in the rates of pay as es- tablished under decision No. I47 of United States Railroad Labor Board, inasmuch, as the actual living costs have not been reduced below living costs on which increases were based under it's decision No. ?, issued July 1920.
 "'Under these circumstances the said employees are now performing service for the railroad at the re- duced rates effective July I, 1921, thunder protest
 Signed R. c. STEARNS,
 "Genera Chairman, Brotherhood of Railway and Steam
 ship Clerks, Etc"