Evening star., 1921-03-07
PAY. CUT VIOLATION,
RA|t- BOARD. RULES
Charges Erie Road Has Dis
regarded Orders in Six
Instances.
Ry the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. March THE Railway
Labor Board today ruled that the
Erie railroad hal violated previous
board rulings in six respects, par
tioularIy in reducing wages of en-
ploycS and in failing to cancel these
reductions when ordered to do so by
the board. The road had contended
that the board must hold hearing
lefore ordering restoration of pre-
SiouS rates of pay.
The railroad ordered a 81 per cent
reduction in the pay of trackmen
effective February l and later ignored
the boards order to restore wages to
the rates ordered in the boards wage
decision of July. 1920
The railroad set precedent Dy It's
contention that a hearing would have
10 be held on the board order to re-
store the previous rates of pay. Had
today'S decision been favorable to the
Erie ii would have opened the way
for scores of similar contentious by
other railroads, it was said.
Victory for Employees.
The decision was regarded in labor
circles AS a clean cut victory for the
employees the board upholding labor's
contention of violation of decision
number two. the wage award, by the
Eric in every instance.
The decision did not again order
the road specifically to restore the
wage rates of decision number two.
u declared. however. that when the
Eric shall have rescinded the orders
constituting violation of decision
number two and paid the wages de-
termined by that decision and shall
have had or sought conference with
the employees, and when. if it has not
been reasonably possible to decide
tho iiSprIta in, hno ri
will hear such dispute and decide
what wages are now just and reason
able.
This board cannot now consider in
this proceeding what wages are now
just and reasonable for the employees
concerned herein" the decision con-
tinued. This proceeding is to de-
termIne whether or not there has
been a violation by this carrier of
decision No. -.
Six Specified Violations.
The six specified violations of the
wage decision by the Erie were named
as follows. BY deducting the January 81
earnings from the January earnings Of
all monthly rated employees not. CONSENT
ing to such deductions.
by deducting four twenty-eighths
of the February earnings of all
monthly rated employees.
BY deducting January 81 earnings
from the January earnings Of such
daily and hourly rated employees clas-
sified prior TO wage awards as month
Iy rated employees.
by deducupg four twenty -eighths
Of the February earnings Of employees
In the preceding violation.
tThese four violations resulted
from the Erie's order that all salaried
employees should deduct one days
pay each week beginning with jan
uary 31D
''Ey arbitrarily reducing the wages
Of trackmen to 30 cents an hour
and to other hourly rates contrary
to decision No. ..
by arbitrarily requiring train dis
patchers TO work seven days a week
for wages determined by this board
e me- 1ust . and reasonable, for six
Position Set Forth.
The position of the board regard
ing the question of inability of the
road to pay the wages ordered which
has been the chief point OF dispute
in several recent cases. was clearly
set forth in today's decision.
1T is the judgment of this boafd,".i
tire decision said, that no carrier
may. without violating the spirit and
revenue for any mopth should be ea-
iimated TO be insufficie nE to meet it's
cape nsess for labor ana material for
that month, arbitrarily appropriate
" ItSeD wages aue ies -enPiOyes mi
such amount to make expenses
for labor and material equal or ex-
ceed revenues for that month.
-."There is simple. orderly and
legal method open to all carriers to
obtain appropriate relief in case they
ere of the opinion that the wages
fixed by decision No. are not just
and reasonable. IT, after failure of
conferences with employees to decide
a dispute. the carrier is able to show
that the wages fixed are not now
Just and reasonable. this board will
decide what wages are just and rea-
sonable."