Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-19
R.R. WORKERS STR|KE|
AWAIT BOARDS RULE
Brotherhood Aid is Promised
Men in Fight Against
Wage Cut.


men belonging 10 the six federated
chop crafts unions have voted to
strike against the general railroad
wage reduction of July 1. 1921. but
will defer any action until the promul-
cation of working rules now pending
before the United States Railroad
Labor Board. when another vote will
be taken on acceptance or rejection
OF the rules.
This announcement was officially
made by B. Ny. Jewell. head of the
shop Crafts organizations, at a mass
meeting OF Chicago shopworkers,
yesterday.
Belief that stronger fgh. could be
made IL strike is called, with preser-
walton os the shop mems working
rules as one of the goals, led to the
decision to withhold a strike call for
the present. Mr.. Jewell said. He and
other union speakers counseled the
men to wait until the entire wage and
rules situation was before them,
rather than rush into strike which
Mr.. Jewell declared the railroad man.
arements desired.
I'VE can make a real Tight on the
have the fun support of other branch
es OF railway employees on a wage
fight alone" Mr.. Jewell said. IF we
want to protect our best interests, we
must wait until the time IS oppor-
tune. But il the Labor Board re-
l.ases all the remaining rules 10 be
acted upon at one time, then we will
have the whole matter before us We
VIII need only one vote--to accept or
n iect the rules-to determine what
will be done"
This announcement was greeted
with apnla use and questioners Jumped
up in all parts Of the hall to press for
further details. Answering one ques-
t!on. Mr.. Jewell asserted that the shop
crafts would have the cooperation OF
other examinations. including the big
four brotherhoods, il strike We're
called and urged his audience TO pre-
pare for action.
The strike vote. completed August 1
was announced as showing a consti-
tutionai majority against the wage
reduction which went into effect july
1. This was the first official cons
rrmation OF the result which has been
rufnored for some time.
Condemnation of the operations o!
Labor Board and of it's decisions was
voiced by all speakers at the meeting
MIR. Jewel charged that the railroads
were attempting to use the board t
take an unfair advantage of the indus
trial situation. The boards method o.
drafting rules 10 supplant the nationa
agreement, a wartime measure, undel
which the employees work at present
was asserted to be impractical becaus'
only seven of the 1S6 rules have beer
substituted.
Mr.. Jewel said he would demand o
the board that "for once, it meet a sit
uation in a practicay way" and an
nounce the remaining rules stimuli
taneously instead of piecemeal.
when the board announces tn
substitute rules, our committee VII
take a ballot" Mr.. Jewell said. IF tn
rules arc not satisfactory and the ballo
saws so. we will take the result 10 tn
railroads If they refuse to grant ou
reasonable demands, they will have
stand responsible and answer to tn
American people
" p. Goodman, chairman of tn
Pennsylvania system Federation {
shop Crafts. said he thought that til
Pennsylvania had been selected
make a fight for the open shop as til
first step in such an agreement on a
railroads.
Condemnation of the piecework sy:
tenn was made by Edward Tegtmeye
vice-president Of the Blacksmith
Union who said the attempt of II
roads TO reinstate piecework was a
aggravation to strike.
The railroads have been expectir
us 10 strike" he said. They want l
10 strike so they can put US out
business. We want your suggestion
and advice. and when the time conn
tie your hats on; we're going down Il
line and going all the way"
General charges that the railroa,
were opposing demands of the uniol
as part of a movement which, Pres
dent Jewell said. was backed by mil
billion dollars or more" were mad
The object, he said, was ito cru,
organized labor" He cited alleged u
fair action by the railroads in offerir
20 negotiate rules on each individu
road. and then falling to agree. On
five agreements had been complet
among the 320 carriers on which su
stitute rules were TO be drafted. It
unions seek to retain the prese
national agreements intact and I
shopmen, according to the union {
fcials will make a harder fight for I