Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-01

The decision granted reductions
l, varying from to Is per cent. and in
the case of section laborers, completely
wiped out the increase granted that
class of employees by the $500, ,OOO. 600
wage award OF July 20. 1920 Secrion
men who have receiving 1910 for an
S-hour day were cut to $500, the same
figure in effect under federal control.
The reduction was approximately IS
per cent.
Switchmen and shop crafts were
given per cent reduction. while tine
train service men were cut approxi-
mately per cent. Car repairers were
cut about 10 cent.
May Appiy 10 An.
While the decrease is specifieellyap-
Piled for the present only to the 1O4
roads whose cases have been heard By
the board, the decision says it may
later be applied to any other road
asking hearing in accordance with
the provisions of the Esch-Cumlnins
transportation act.
The decision is based on the pres
ent rates of pay as established by the.
5000, 100000 wage award of July 20.
1920 Common labor pay, over which
the railroads made their hardest fight,
is to be reduced 6 to 81 cents an
hour. cutting freight truckers average
monthly wages to $o71O and track Ia
borers to Still. This new schedule
still gives section men an average daily
wage of $500 for an s-hour day. al.
though considerable testimony offered
by the roads, particularly in the south.
showed common labor wages as low
,- En f1~ 1n-1or
Shop Crafts Reduced.
Shop craft employees and train and
engine service men. except those IN
passenger service. are reduced s cents
an hour. Construction and section
foremen are reduced 10 cents an hour.
cutting their average monthly pay to
S146
Passenger and freight engineers who
were given increases of 10 and 13 cents
an hour by the 1920 award are to he
cut 6 and 8 cents an hour respectively
PASSENGER and freight conductors who
received increases of 1212 and la
cents in 1920 are cut 7ls and s ceats
by the new schedule,
Train dispatchers and yardmasters
whose monthly earnings at present av-
erage $500 to $270 are cut S cents an
hour.
The smallest reduction will apply to
office boys and other employees under
IS years of age. who will receive D !
cents an hour less after July l.
Scale for Clerks.
One of the significant readjustments !
in the decision is the reclassification
Of clerks whereby entering clerks. usu-
ally young men and women of Is to 20
years Of age. will receive monthly
salary of $67.5O for the first six
months and $77.5O for the second six
months Of service. Clerks with less
han one years experience now re-
,eive $12O. The attitude Of the rail-
way unions toward the decreases or
tered remains to be determined. 1t
las been generally understood that the
,nion men would accept decreases of
rom 10 to 1919 per cent. The big
are expected to meet here
July l to consider the boards decision.
which is effective on that date.
Claiming they were hard hit by the
winter slump in business, railroad man
Igements have been clamoring for sew
'rNl mOutuS IOT i0WcI wages. 0HN tHG
[ecision marks the first relief grained
" the board since it set the high
wage scale in it's $500. 100000 award
more than 10 months ago. l.
Basis for Reduction.
The decision will say that since the
800 wage award there has been de-
rease in the cost of living and "the
cale of wages for similar kinds Of work
n other industries has in general been
ecreased.' These two points wire
be chief contentious Of the railroads
efore the board. Testimony was Of
cred in the hearing which began April
8 and ended May 16. to show reoac-
ions Of 20 to 80 per cent in the cost
t food and clothing. Varying reduc-
ons in wages mostly for common In
or. were also cited BY the carriers.
The board believe" the decision says,
that, based ON the elements shown,
ae decreases fixed are justified nnd
equired."
The endless cycle which attended the
lcrease In the cost OF living and the {
lcrease in wages during the war has
sen reversod, the board says, and
rst the asi1sss depression threw l