The labor world., 1921-11-26
LABOR BOARD IN.
WAGE CUT DRIVE
Despite Promise TO Brother
hoods, Wage S|ashIng Be-
gins in South.
(By The Federated Prcss.)

(By The Federated Prcss.)
CHICAGO. Nov. !4,-Following
: closely upon the solemn assurances
given the chiefs of the Railway Bro
ID therhoods that no more wage cuts
were in prospect-for at time at
least--the United States Railway La
Dor Board on Wednesday, did what
many union labor leaders expected:
started another wage slashing process
that must inevitably revive nation wide
strike plans.
Over the protest Of A. o. Wharton
and w. L. McMenimen, labor men,
bers, the board cut rates of pay for
virtually all classes of railroad en-
ployes of the New Orleans & Great
Northern Railroad Company of Missi-
ssippi The announcement camouflag-
ed the decision by declaring that this
particular road was not party to
the case involving the wage increase
of July l last.
simultaneously with the announce
ment of the wage cut the National
Industrial Traffic League, composed
Of the big shipping interests of the
country. in convention here, adopted
a resolution urging the railroads to
press their claims for further wage
reduction as basis for freight rate
readjustment.
Opportunity for Roads.
This action is expected to make it
possible for the railroad executives
to barnstorm the Railway Lab Board
with demands for further hilarious
wage cutting, and art the same time
plead, 1T amt us as wants it, but ye
r gods! what would you do? Blame
the shippers" The resolution Of the
shippers urges that "all employees Of
carriers be- reduced in wages to a
point corresponding to the salaries
and wages in other lines Of work."
whatever that may mean.
Under the Railway Boards ruling,
train and engine service employees were
returned without qualification to the
rates of pay in effect March 1, 1920,
but rates for shop crafts and round
house laborers were specified by the
board class by class and station agents
were similarly rated.
The decision said the roads rep
resentatives testified to an operating
deficit of 100000 for 1920, and
further operating deficit Of $4,000 for
the first half of 1921, together with
deferred maintenance of 100000, ac-
cumulated since the ending Of Federal
Control.
Employees Protest.
All classes OF employees on the road,
the decision said. except mainten-
ance OF way forces declined to accept
the reductions of July last or rates
proposed by the roads. The dissent
ing opinion filed by Wharton differed
from the majority decision with
particular reference to the manifest
ly unjust and unreasonable treatment
accorded shop employees in the deci-
sion and the indefensibly low rate
esta blished for laborers."
by this decision the board has de-
creed that laborer who has hereto
fore generally received rate higher
. than that paid a. section laborer shall
now be paid a wage Of $3.50 for a full
time week." Wha-ton's dissenting
opinion said, "a wage that is below
the minimum esta bliched by various
agencies as being sufficient to sup
port one worker and many Of these
are men Of families.
rs it "just or reasonable that a
journeyman mechanic who is required
to serve a four-year apprenticeship
shall have his earnings for full
months service cut from $174.40 to
$122.40, while certain other classes of
employees, some of whom are unques-
tionably less skilled, retain all of the
increases granted them during the
. period of Federal Control?"
He presented table of rates of pay
in passenger service showing reduc-
tions of $3.50 a day by this decision
and declared that other classes of shop
crafts ARE likewise the subject of dis
, elimination as compared with the
treatment accorded station and train
forces"