The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-12-16
j. s. RAIL BOARD
KILLS 4-II,,lUR DAY
100000 Trackmen Are Affected
by the Decision.
OTHER RULINGS GIVEN OUT
OTHER RULINGS GIVEN OUT
No Overtime Allowed Until Ten Hours
Have Been Put in-Teiegraph,
Telephone and Signal Men
Are Also Included.

Chicago, Dec. 14.-The eight-hour
day was abolished in effect for more
than 100000 maintenance of way en-
ployees of the country's railroads in a
decision of the United States railroad
labor board. The board ruled that
time and half for overtime shall not
be paid until ten hours have been
worked, although eight hours shall
still constitute days work.
Railroad unions have bitterly OPP
posed moves of similar sort attempt
ed by railroads acting independently
of the board The decision becomes
effective Friday.
Telephone, telegraph and signal
equipment men are included in the de-
cision which, for the first time, classi-
fies them with trackmen.
Sunday Scale Killed.
Time and a half for Sunday work is
also eliminated, but the decision or
ders payment for three hours for the
first two hours work on Sunday, if
the employee affected works less than
eight hours.
Employees called from regular jobs
and sent on emergency matters, such
as wrecks, washOutS and the like, will
be paid at the rate of eight hours a
day instead of receiving extra pay for
sleeping hours between ten ut night
and six in the morning.
Railroads are empowered to make
an agreement with employees, proyid-
ing-for shorter hours, so that unem-
ployment will be avoided. The for
mer national agreement provided for
eight hours of work to be paid for
every day.
Railroads also are empowered to
reach an agreement as to the starting
time of shifts and employees meal
hours.
National Agreement Affected.
The fixing OF the ten-hour basis for
the payment of overtime is a radical
departure from the national agree
ment, although it previously existed
for a large number of maintenance of
way employees in extra or floating"
gangs. The decision will affect saw
ings estimated at hundreds of thou
sands of dollars a month for the rail
roads.
The decision broadly hints that the
board is ready to~hear applications
for wage reductions from the rail
roads and applications for. increased
pay from the unions.
1t points out that working agree
ments affecting more than 100000
railroad employees, half of the total
number employed, have been dis
posed of within 45 days of the with
draWal of the recent strike order.
1t is empowered to act only after
the railroads and their employees have
failed to reach an agreement, and il
was announced some time ago that
wage matters would not be considered
until revision of the national agree
ment had been completed.
The decision asserts, however, that
despite progress already made, neither
railroads nor employees have initiated
proceedings for wage changes.
No Ruling on Seniority.
The decision made no new rules re-
garding seniority, 80 per cent of the
roads having agreed with their men
on these rules.
The few disputes on seniority were
referred back to the men and the ex-
ecutives for agreement. Ninety per
cent of the roads reported no dis
putes ON promotion rules and the
board took similar action. The rules
on discipline and grievances were re
adopted with practically no changes,
as there We're virtually no disputes.
On many railroads the men and the
executives had worked out complete
agreements. In such cases the rules
stand. The boards rules apply only
where there has been no agreement.
Some OF the agreements between
the men and the arrangements were
closely parallel to the national agree
ment, others were radically different.