The New York herald., 1921-07-13
ALL TRACTION Lines |
TO MAKE WAGE CUT
InterbOrOugh's Request for.
10 P. C. Reduction First in
General Move.
NO STRIKES EXPECTED
Men Said to Realize That
Move by Companies Is
Necessary
$6,000,000 TO BE SAVED
$4,000 Employees Probably
Will Be Affected Soon by
Retrenchment Plan.
S6,OOO,OOO TO BE SAVED

Fss'
Frank Hedley, president and general
manager of the Interborough Rapid
Transit Company. announced yester-
$4,000 subway and elevated employees
to accept a wage reduction OF 10 per
cent, in spite of the fact that the con-
tract providing the present scale does
not expire until December 81. There
is every indication. II was learned, that
the employees will accept the cut.
Interviews with heads of other tran
sit lines revealed that the action Of the
Interborough will be the first step
toward a wage reduction of 10 per
cent. or more on all the transit lines
Of the city. That reduction is expected
to amount to approximately $4,000. 900
a year and to affect $4,000 employees.
Reports from all lines indicated that
the men realize that with the decreas-
ing cost of living a wage reduction is
inevitable and are prepared to accept
less pay
That attitude Is strengthened by the
fact that there are numerous appltca-
tions for work on file with the transit
companies. 1t was stated that the In
terborough is receiving applications at
rate Of about eighty-five a day and has
several hundred on Ale. No move to-
ward strike Is expected.
| The Interborouyh expects to put its
cut into effect July "a. J. J. Connolly.
president Of the Interborough brother
| rood. indicated that the vote was ex-
pected to be completed by July %.
Men in Receptive Mood.
Job e. Hedges, receiver for the New
! York Railways Company, constituting
many of the Manhattan surface lines,
has had before him representatives of
the brotherhood of the employees of that
company and explained to them the COM
pany's belief that a reduction is neces-
sary. Thomas A. Fazakerly. president
of the brotherhood, sail the men had had
the proposed reduction under considera-
ton and that most of them appeared to
realize that a reduction sooner or later
| must come and that, therefore, they
were resigned to it.
No definite proposal upon the reduc-
ton. however has yet been submitted
TO then, and 1t Is not expected that 1t
will be submitted until after the Inter-
borough vote is complete. Though all
the lines indicated their intention of
undertaking wage reduction, 1t ap-
peared that all will await the outcome
Of the Interborough vote before promul-
eating a reduction order
| The Second avenue and the Third ave-
nue. and other lines, which are without
unions are taking the same position as
the New York Railways surface lines.
| Charles Z. Chalmers, receiver for the
Second avenue lines, said he was con-
| fident his employees would recognize the
necessity for cut and would bow to 1t.
| Now. he said. his men are receiving five
cents more an hour than men on other
| lines.
Pursuing the plan Lindley NJ Garrison.
receiver, announced several weeks ago,
the officials Of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
! sit Company are comforting with repre-
sentatives OF It's employees association,
and 1t Is understood an agreement re-
garding a reduction of pay virtually has
been agreed upon. That reduction is
said to be approximately Is per cent.
| and will become effective August s,
when the present wage agreement ex-
pires.
Turn About Fair Play. Says HedIey
The wages of B. r. T. employees were
| increased 25 per cent. in August 1919.
In August, 1920, they struck for another
20 per cent. increase but were defeated.
The new force recruited was given
10 per cent. increase. based upon the
scale prior to August 1919. II is un-
derstood that the chopping off of that
! 10 per cent. was regarded as funda-
mental In the present negotiations and
that the officials have been able TO get
| the employees to agree to per cent. off
the % per cent. increase of 1919. There
is understood TO be pending proposal
to take a moderate reduction before the
expiration of the contract and larger
one later. but no decision has been
reached Pending also are several minor
details regarding working conditions. An
agreement on all details is expected
| about July Is.
II was reported that the 3. r. T. re-
duction may affect its elevated and sub
way motormen in addition to the other
classes of employees. The motormen
have separate agreement made
through the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers. which does not expire until
the end of the year.
The three lines in Queens which serve
all OF that borough not covered by the
B. r. T. cut their wages about 12i5 per
cent several weeks ago. so another re-
iuctlon on those lines Is not expected
at this time
The reasons OF the Interborough for
asking its employees to accept wage
reduction before the expiration of their
agreement were explained by President
Hedley as follows:
Some time ago when the cost of living
was rapidly rising we had contract
with the men for n fixed wage, which
contract had not yet expired but the
company. at the request OF the men.
voluntarily made an increase. Now the
conditions are reverse. and the company
requests the men TO treat II the same as
the company has treated them"
IL Is understood the negotiations ~
the railway companies have been con-
Quoted with some degree Of secrecy In
order to forestall the possibility Of n
resurrection OF activity on the part Of
agitators for the Amalgamated Assocla-
ton OF Electric and street Railway En-
ployees. which is credited by the COM
panies with stirring up previous strikes