New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
New York and Chicago. The wage re-

duction proposed for unskilled labor.
which the employees representatives
took under consideration with the
promise of answering at second con-
ference to be held March Is, amounted
to from TN to 2i per cent. The
second and more sweeping notification
gives no percentage of reduction pro-
posed. AS it covers workers in widely
differing activities, it is said the re
duction will be variable.
1t is said that among the classifca-
tions Of employees affected the shop
employees, including maohinists in both
the locomotive and car departments,
are, under normal conditions, numcri~
cally the greatest. These employees
have been idle for some time, through
a general shutdown of the New York
Central shops. Maintenance. clerical
anl other forces are included in the
proposed reduction. The formal notice,
after enumerating the classes affected.
says:
"Since the effective date of tho rates
now paid there has been marked
change in conditions, and these changed
conditions justify ana require reduc-
tion in existing rates"
Company's Statement
In announcing the reduction the fol-
lowino statement was given out by the
company:
"This move is on behalf of the rate
paying public and of general industry
just as much as or the railroad.
"The wage rates imposed upon the
railroads by wartime government oper-
alton, aside from the absurd restric-
nd hNo
about by the national agreements, are
entirely out of line with the standards
of to-day in all other branches of in
dustry. The railroads have been COM
pel!ed by law to maintain artlhciai
standards and unhusiness-lik practices
in the management of their forces. Tne
transportation act, however, expressly
provides that the railroads shall be
economically managed, so this action IS
In strict conformity with the letter and
the spirit OF the law.
~The New York Central Railroad
through out the years preceding Federal
control successfully, maintained har-
monious and satisfactory relations with
q loyal and efficient force Of high class
workers in all branches of the railroad
organization. 1t now proposes to elm
mate the gross evils which have been
imposed upon it through the unprece-
and to get back to management that IS
in harm ony with correct business prac-
tices. on behalf of giving the travelling
and shipping public the utmost of good
railroad service at the lowest possible
price.
"Chief among the evils which the
public rightfully should demand to be
eliminated is wage waste, involving the
payment Of vast sums for services not
nd q nT q
amounting in many departments to up
ward Of SO per cent. The public is en-
titled when it pays Il dollar to receive
a dollars worth of service from a rail-
road the same as from any other busi-
ness institution.
Reaction of High Wages
"Artifcial and unwarranted high
wage scales upon the railroads are det-
rimental to industry generally, as we'll
as a direct burden upon the railroads
them selves which the public must pay
in high taxes, with tie more serious
alternative of suffering the deteriora-
tion or breakdown of the transporter
tion machine upon which the prosperity
Of our whole population depends.
"Cn behalf of the public, the rail-
tional agreements and rules, which
-
almost insurmountable handicaps to ef-
hcient management, before the Labor
Board, now sitting in Chicago. Before
this tribunal the railroads are present
ing volumes OF evidence upon this sub
ject, and decision Will be reached in
due time.
"The transportation act and the rul-
ings of the Labor Board provide that
the railroad arrangements shall confer
with their own employees in advance
of any revision of wages in an effort to
arrive at an agreement. The New York
Central is conforming strictly to these
rulings, and the first of these confer
ences, covering its unskilied labor, was
leld last Tuesday, with further similar
meetings to be held as the task of re-
Mobilization of the working personnel
proceeds.
st is a noteworthy fact that up to
date the representatives of labor have
entered no denial whatever to the
statement frankly presented to them by
the managers that existing railroad
wages are decidedly out of line With
those prevailing in other industries
The New York Central has III progress
a comprehensive study of the going
rates of compensation being paid for
all branches of the labor which it re-
quires, SO that its position with respect
to fair treatment of its valued en-
ployees and essential business prudence
may be correct and entirety Justllll-
ble."
The existing minimum hourly rates
of wages for the leading classes af-
fected by the New York Centrals mott
fcation, with time and half for over
time, are as follows:
Clerks, So cents to Sill; mainte-
nance OF way mechanics, 6S tc
hlacksmiths, sheet-metal workers, cleo
and corenakers, So cents; carmen an'
IS cents.
Cuts Based en- July Awards
Practically all the men affected be.
long to labor organizations. The re-
ductions in general are based on the
increases Of pay granted by the Fed
eral Labor Board last July.
At that time 100000 railroad en-
ployees received an award of $600,000
900 through a decision of the board
The men had asked for $1,000 600, ,00t
and at the time of the award there wa;
talk of strike because the full amount
had not been granted. Some 400 car
riers were involved. 1t was announced
that the award meant an average in
crease Of 21 per cent in the pay Of the
railroad men. The boards award wa.
made retroactive to the preceding
May I.
In its general decision the board vol.
lowed the general policy that the mar
who received the least pay should gel