The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-22
Reduction Equals Increase
Allowed About a Year
Ago by the U. S. La
Dor Board.
1000 MEN AFFECTED
All Employees From Cap
tains to Deckhands Agree
to Scale After Series of
] Conferences.
BROTHERHOOD IS HOSTILE
Federation of Clerks and 9th
ers Warn Lines Change in
Present Standard VIII
Be Fought.

Marine employees OF the railroads
In New York harbor-ranging In the
scale from captains down to deck
handicapped yesterday to accept the
wage scale which was in effect before
the United States Railroad Board in
creased their wages last year. The
increase then granted was exactly the
amount by which the railroads now
propose to reduce the wages Of these
employees, running from 17.2 per
cent. for masters and mates and from
Is to 80 per cent. for all others, In
Guiding deckhands. bargemen, sweep
ers and other employees on the float
Ing equipment.
But while the wage question so far
es 1t affected the marine workers was
being settled. the possibility of a strike
In at least one other division OF the
railroads employees loomed larger.
The Eastern Federation OF the Broth
erhood OF Railway and Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and
Station Employees sent a resolution to
+. H. Fitzgerald, grand president OF
the brotherhood. urging him to author
ize a referendum strike ballot for i'm
mediate use should the railroads de-
cline to obey the mandates OF the
transportation act of 1890.
Resol utSon Warns Roads.
The federation has membership OF
$1,000. The resolution pledges Its full
economic force TO protect the present
standards of labor. aud warns the rail-
road officials that they must carry out
the letter and the spirit OF the trans
portation act, and that arbitrary nc
tlon OF some railroad officials In reduc-
ing wages undoubtedly will be the spark
which will set the entire transportation
system into chaos and industrial revo-
luton.
1--WE strongly resent and voice our
opposition says the resolution, Ito the
attacks being made upon the railroad
labor union for the purpose os instigat-
ing un-American conditions OF starva-
tion wages and twelve hours a day.
Abolishing payment for overtime work
and installing the abomlnabe and ne
farious practices which We're current
in our craft only few years ago is
condemned. and we pledge our full ceco-
nomic force TO protect our present STAN
dards"
The policy or the conferences which
settled the wage questions affecting the
narino workers, and which are now
being held by practically all of the
railroads, is for the manager OF a de-
partment 10 fix q day and an hour
and meet the men personally. explaining
10 them the necessity for reduction
IN wages at this time. Each man EN-
ployed on the floating equipment has
the opportunity OF hearing. and each
man is asked to personally sign q form
agreement. which cuts the recent in
crease from his wages.
Eight Hour Day to stand.
Tho employees. according to their rep
r.sentatiyes and to executives with
whom they are holding the conferences,
DO not strenuously object TO the wage
cut at this time. but are protesting
against any increase In the eight hour
day. In every case they have been as
sured BY the executives that the roads
have no idea OF lengthening the work
day at this time.
on the New York Centrars floating
equipment went through the conference
mill before the noon hour yesterday. and
the men on emerging said that they had
agreed TO tho cuts and had signed forms
10 this effect. Not a single group OF
those interviewed by officials Of tho New
York Central refused to continue work
at the reduced scale.
officials say that the workers may be
al tf,srx tao. 1Ia
they have about determined as to what
to expect from each group. III the group
in conference ls composed OF all Ameri-
cans the decrease Is accepted immedi-
.ately. In groups where the foreign eic-
n1cnt Is predominant the signatures are
secured. the executives say, only after
quite bit of gi-umbling by the men.
The present scale for masters, pilots
or captains on marine equipment owned
by the railroads is 1920 a month: for
mates and first officers. $780, for tug
boats, steam lighter captains, masters.
pilots and captains, $3.50; for pilots,
5000 and mates $3.50. The others scale
down from these figures to 500 a
month.
No Cases 20 United states Hoard.
Conferences continued yesterday with
marine employees by executives OF the
New Yorl. Central. the Lackawanna, the
New Haven and the Erie. From present
Indications not a single case will 40 tc
the United States Railroad Labor Board,
10 which the men have the right Of
appeal. Between 1000 and 1000 en-
ployecs are affected by the general re-
ductions.
One OF the developments OF tho day
was tho decision OF each road 20 give
CIT, individually, any news to be made
Dsblic about the conferences Heretofore
r has boen made public b. i. T. Fair
hanks. secretary Of the General Man
ayers Association.
MIR. Fairbanks, Il was stated by the
railroad executives. Is no longer the
Ccnttwued on Eighth Page.