The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-16
ANOTHER STRIKE VOTE TO BE
 ORDERED IF ROADS PERSIST
Will Demand an In- crease to Offset Re- ductiOn and Argue Case Before Labor Board Once More.

nOunCenent or the Cdr1lcrS tndl lney propose to demand a new wage cut of from 10 to 20 per cent. was the opinion expressed this week by lead CTS of the railroad shop crafts and train service unions. They also said that another strike vote might be taken if further wage cuts were put into effect.
 "This means a finish fight" said William Johnston, president of the . ..International Association of Machin- ets. Wage reductions will be con-
 eGa in behalf of our organizations,
 as all l2ther crafts. In fact, we are going tCselemand five cents an hour increase in wages and believe we can justify such an advance"
 President Johnston said that there were normally employed on the rail roads about I3o,ooo members of his organization, which, he said was pre- pairing for "any emergency that may arise" by establishing a commissary fund.
 He characterized the action of the railroads in agitating further wage re- ductions as an insane policy" that was "breaking down the spirit and morale of the workers" and resulting in an economic loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the carriers
 The action of the railroads in talk ing away from the men a living he oJIoI oHoo4 upon the mental attitude of the work CTS. As a result the employees are retaliating, and this is consequently resulting in a loss of production to the railroads. They cannot get serv- ice from men who are continually be- ing persecuted and made the targets of wage cuts.
 When we propose wage increases at this time we feel that we are only doing what is just and will attempt to show that we are right. The Rail way Employees Department of the American Federation of Labor has gathered great mass of data which will be presented to the United States Railroad Labor Board in Justification fo rthe wage demand, and I believe that it will establish, under the rules laid down by Congress, the workers right to increased compensation"
 President Johnston. said that joint conference of the heads of the various unions would be called in Chicago within few days to prepare policy in regard to meeting the railroad man agers
 Jerome De Hunt, chairman of the New York Harbor District Council of the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees, with membership of 10000 in this dis trict, said that the workers will not stand for further wage cuts"
 "The rank and file is going to set tie the issue this time,'' he said "When the last strike was called off 1t was the understanding that no further cuts would be made immedi- ately. This time three or four union executives are not going to have the sayso of whether we shall back down or not. The local unions and their leaders are going to take the matter in hand"
 Referring to the action of the Penn sylvania railroad in getting out an in junction against the Railroad Labor Board to restrain 1t from handing down an "unfavorable decision," Mr. De Hunt said:
 This gives the railroad organiza- tions the same privilege and why should they not avail themselves of the use of the injunction to prevent wage cuts or any other unfavorable action by the Railroad Labor Board? ,"
 In proposing wage decreases at this time the railroads are running true to form," said Anthony Spair, chair man of the New York District Coun- cil, United Brotherhood of Mainten- ance of Way and Railway Shop La borers.
 MT. Spair said that the conference with the railroad managers would probably be mere formalities," as the l workers would retaliate by presenting demands for wage increase. With | out further negotiations, he said the l matter would undoubtedly be present. ed to the Railroad Labor Board in a l joint report
 Representatives of about 10000 l maintenance of way workers and oth- l CT shop craftsmen met in Horton's l Hall, East I25th street, this week, to l consider action of the wage reduction 1 proposals and the contract system put l into effect by several railroads. He added that he had received reports from Port Jervis to the effect that nearly fifteen hundred maintenance men had suffered wage reductions, l due to the action of the Erie railroad 1 in letting out such work to the Owen l Contracting Company.
 Charles Sweeney, one of the leaders of the Brotherhood of Railroad Train | men, said that the train service men would not peacefully submit to further wage reductions" He said