Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-06-01
Twelve Per Cent Reduction
Effective July
First
MANY ARE AFFECTED
Thirty-One Organizations Involved
Applies to l04 Lines-Expected
- Per Cent Cut

Chicago, June An estimated
800 100000 will be slasF.2d From! the
ration's railway wage bill when an or
der cltting wages an average of Il
pcr cent, be handed down tomorrow
wv the United States Lair Board
D comes effective July /. The order
fects members Of 81 labor organiza-
ions, employed on 104 railroads.
While the decrease = specifically
applied only to the roa', whose cases
'::;ye been heard by t'p beard the
decision. says il may later be applied
to any other road asking a hearing
under the. provisions Of the Esch-
CumminS Transportation ac:.
Percentages Of reductions computed
nv members Of the board gave the
average Of 12 per cent, and the same
source estimated the annual reduc-
ton in wages at approximately
$l0O,00O,000
The Railroad Labor Board recently
"cclassificd the various employees IN
connection with railway operations,
and this, il was pointed out, may have
.ome effect on labor costs.
The board also, = few weeks ago.
ordered abrcgation Of the national
working agreements. to become eff"c
;ivc July /. At the hearin" or the
netition for ahrogatior Of these
agreements railroad witnesses estima-
ted. savings in labor cost as high as
5000, 100000 annually. This would be
in addition 10 the saving possible
through the current ware reduction
decision.
The deciSion grants reductions
varying from ) to Il cents an hour,
or from ) to Is per cent, and in the
case of section laborcrS completely
wines out the incr2as" granted that
class Of employees by the $60O.OOn :
900 wage award Of July 90, 1920. For
section mcn the reduction was ap-
3roximately Is per cent. Switchmen
and shop crafts were given . per
.cnt reduction while the train serv
men were cut approximately 7 per
cent. >Switchmen and shop crafts
were given a 9 per cent reduction
while the train service men were cut
approximately ! per cent. Car re-
pairerS were cut abou; 10 per cent.
Common laborers pay. over which
the railroads made their hardest
fight. is to be reduced e to s ID cents
IN hour, cutting freight truckers
average monthly wages to $97 10 and
track aborers to $77.1l. This new
,rhcdule gives section men an aver
age daily wage of 81 .02 for an eight
hour day. although considerable tcS-
timony offered by the roads, particu-
larlv in the South, shaved common
labor wages as low as 81 30 for 10
hour day.
Shop crafts employees and train and
argine service men except those IN
passenger service are reduced s cents
an hour. Construction and section
foremen arc reduced 10 cents IN hour
Passenger and freight engineers
who were given increases of 10 ard
L. cents an hour by yle 1920 award
arc to he cut Is and cents an hour.
respectively, Passenger and freight
conductors who ref civeA increases Of
II l-2 and Il cents in 1920 are cYt
: - and cents, respectively, by
the new schedule.
Train diSpatchers and yard masters
those monthly earnings at present
average $3.50 to $270 are cut cents
an hour.
The smallest reduction will apply to
office boys and other employees under
- years of age. who will receive
cents an houc less after July /.
Clerks are rcclassified. So that en-.
tcring clerks, usually young men anG
women Of Is to 30 years of age
I'll! receive monthly salary oi
SCI 30 for the first six months an,
ST. so for the second six months II
service. Clerks with less than ore
wears experience now receive $12a,
4 new monthly .cheduyle for float
..ng equipment emnloyes on ferries
tugs and steam lighters gives cap
tains 5000, engineers $50, fremcl
and oilers Sl40. On lirhter. anc
barees captains will receive $40 =