Evening star., 1921-03-11
RAILROAD LABOR
AND WAGE ISSUES
FACING CONGRESS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

lines in the matter of reductions by
announcing that it proposed a 20 per
cent decrease in the pay of every en-
ploye from the president down, with
the exception OF train service men.
telegraph operators and unskilled
men; The pay of unskiiled workers
would be brought down to conform
With the rates paid in other industries
II possible. Conferences will be held
with the employees at Oelwein. Iowa
March 10. About 5000 men would be
affected.
It's proposed policy was similar to
that announced few days ago by
the Pennsylvania lines.
Will Seek Lower Wages.
In every case the roads specified
that they would seek lower wages in
accordance with the provisions Of the
transportation act, which provides
the employees and the, matter brought
before the Railroad Labor Board only
when an agreement could not be
reached in these conferences
Statements issued by the presidents
of various roads declared that the
proposed cuts were imperative to en-
able the railroads to run. 1t was said
that the roads now were existing en-
tirely on credit, through the leniency
OF their creditors. and that il they
mediately they would not be able to
meet the weekly pay rolls.
Little Comment by Labor.
From the labor side there was little
comment on the actions of the roads
b. NJ. Jewell. chairman of the rail
way labor department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, said that he
had known the propositions were com
in for some time. and that he would
have to wait until he received more
details before issuing a formal state
ment. Other officials questioned the
right of the roads to confer with fhefr :
employees by individual crafts. as the
Pennsylvania railroad recently am
nounced il would do The union men
said that each road would have 70
hold one conference with representa-
tiVes OF all employees whose wages
were TO be cut. and could not deal in
dividually with different unions.
The Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
and the Chicago and Alton were two
roads to announce today that they
would seek wage reductions for un
skilled employees. The Burlington
conferred with representatives of its
10000 unskilled employees yesterday
4ho stated that a further conference
would be held March 22. The chi
cago and Alton said that il had set no
date for conference. but would cali
one soon. Its officials felt that m.
national agreement question now be
fore the labor board should be settled
first. they said.
Reductions Proposed.
The Santa Fe. the Chicago. Milwaukee
and ST. Paul. the Chicago. Rock Island
and Pacific and the Chicago North.
western announced proposed reductions
last night. The Northern Pacific and
the Great Northern previously had AN.
nounced conferences with their EN-.
ployes.
The Illinois Central had no oficia'
statement to make, but il was under.
stood that this road and several Others
expected to take the same action a.
the other lines.
The only road besides the Chicago
Great Western to specify the amount o'
reduction which would be sought wa.
the Burlington. Hale Holden. president
said that the road planned to Gu, ap
proimateiy SR cents an hour off Of tn,
pay Of unskilled men. bringing then
down to 40 cents an hour. The Gu
would vary in different districts. he said
and was simply an average.
Burlington officials said that the aver
UGe pay Of unskilled workers in othe
tndustries was 80 to 35 cents an hour
and virtually all officials said that rail
Suad pay must be placed on a par will
that in other industries.
Proposed Reduction offered.
The Chicago Great Western rail
road. which yesterday announce,
that It would seek conferences con
cerning wage reductions for it's un
skilled employees. today announced