The New York herald., 1921-03-16
LABORERS ACCEPT
CUT OF 25 PER CENT
Continued from First Page.

shop mechanics, maintenance of way
labor. stationary engineers and fire
men and virtually all other classes of
workers short OF members OF the four
great railroad brotherhoods and tele-
graph operators and station agents
should be cut. The notice issued by this
road declared conferences would be held
on dates to be set later.
Almost simultaneous with the meet
ings here j. Z. Fairbanks, secretary OF
the General Managers Association OF
New York, issued official announce
ment of the proposal of lower wages
agreed upon at Mondays meeting for
the employees on railroad marine equip
ment in New York harbor.
On behalf of the land forces Anthony
Spair general organizer for the United
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
and Railway Shop Laborers. said:
There is no misunderstanding. The
side of the roads is clear and we tried
to make our position clear. We have
no grievances and We have no idea of
striking. We believe that conditions do
not warrant wage cuts. However, we
have told the arrangements OF the sew
eral railroads that their plan to take
the matter before the Labor Board suits
us exactly. We have told them that
we will not go into the board with them.
but will follow them. That should be
clear 1t liz a simple matter of a differ
ence OF opinion There will be no strikes.
Wa shall abide by the decision Of the
board, In whose fairness and ability we
have complete confidence
And spokesmen for the Marine Work
ers' Afiliation said:
I'VE reject the proposition as put to
II nv fh. do "a 1an v
the decision Of the Labor Board. Our
arguments are as fair as those OF our
employers. We can match them fact
for fact and statistics for statistics. and
we think we are right"
At the offices OF the New York Central
Railroad it was explained that In some
manner the impression had gone forth
that the road purposed putting the new
wage scale into effect on specified dates,
even before the Labor Board had oppor-
tunity to review the facts.
1t was explained that this Is entirely
erroneous On behalf Of the railroad
w. J. Fripp, general manager of lines
east Of Buffalo, suggested TO the repre-
sentatives of the men that they agree to
decrease in wages beginning April i.
and that the railroad pledged itself to
refund the decrease 10 the men should
the Labor Board decide that the cut was
unwarranted.
The union officials rejected that, re-
peating that their stand was unaltered-
that they would insist upon continuing
upon their existing wage status until the
Labor Board ruled otherwise. There
was no hint by the New York Central
nor the Lackawanna that either desired
TO evade or ignore any ruling of the
board
The boards ruling in the Erie case
was sufficient and final" said one Of the
New York Central officials. I'VE can
make no cuts in pay until the board says
SO. unless. OF course. the men agree.
And they will mott
William Parker. general chairman Of
the United Brotherhood OF Maintenance
Of Way and Railroad Shop Laborers.
let 1t be known that nearly 10000 OF the
men he represents have gone on record
thus far as opposing the acceptance of
the offers of the railroads And all
these men have declared themselves
ready to agree to the Labor Boards
ruling.