Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-29
STRIKE BALLOTS MAILED
 TO 4cs,ooo RAILROAD WORKERS

Cleveland, Ohio,. Aug. 2S-Strike bal lots on the acceptance or rejection of the recent $400;e0e,000 wage reduction re- gently ordered by the railroad labor board were mailed tonight to the 409,O00 mem besr of the Big Four brotherhoods and the Switchmen's Union of North America.
 The ballots revealed a difference of opinion among the chief executives of the five organizations the brotherhood of locomotive engineers, brotherhood of locomotive fremen and enginemen, order of railway conductors and the switchmen using a joint ballot while the brotherhood of railroad -trainmeu sent out 8 separate one
 The trainmen's ballot stated that it had been the intention of all the organiza tions to use a joint ballot but that this. was impossible because the ballot ad- opted by the. other organizations did not in our opinion, contain an impartial and unbiased recital of all that is involved nor did it convey the, assualnce that the wishes of the men, if against working for reduced wages would determine the ! question and that they would be permit ted to leave the service
 The joint ballot declared that if the membership vote was. to reject the wage reductions which became effective cn July 1921, it is to be understood that the men will be permitted to withdraw from the service of their respective com panies unless satisfactory settlement can be reached under the laws of the organiza i tion.
 The proposition which confronts our members and others" said the tra mems ballot, carries with it an attempt ] to reverse the decision of the United 1 United States Railroad Labor Board on 1 he in afFao l July or else persuade or compel the railroad companies to reinstitute wage irates that the labor board decided should be reduced.
 1 Many general chairmen at the Chicago meeting on July favored an immediate 1 vote of the members on the wage cut, i and held that if the necessary majority 1 cf the membership voted to leave the ser vice that strike should be called forth with in an effort to force a restoration 1 of the rates that were in effect on June 90, 1921.
 @AI members and others are hereby notified that If the membership vote is
 in lawful necessary ma jority to leave the
 service rather than continue under the reduced wages now in effect, they will
 on any or all lines where such vote is se- cured, with the sanction of the general grievance committee, be given necessary
 authority by the president of the grand Hodge. The president, of the grand lodge
 will not, with the information giver
 above undertake to review the wishes of
 the men. as expressed in the. ballot, from
 being adhered to-
 l The number of active members of the 1 five organizations to whom ballots were
 mailed was estimated at 150 0o0 train
 men. 115, GOO hrenen. 8oa0O engineers,
 50,o00 conductors and 140O0 switchmen
 In addition the wage reduction had beeE
 previously voted upon by the six shop crafts under the Railway Employees De-
 partment of the American Federation of Labor. Although this vote was taken
 some time ago, the result has not been publicly announced but has been under
 stood to be largely against the acceptance of the wage reduction.
 Both strike ballots issued today re- counted the negotiations leading up to the wage increases estimated as total
 ling $500 00000o granted by the railway labor board on. July 20. 1929. Following hearings which extended over several
 months. the labor board granted a reduc- tion in wages of approximately 12 1-2 per cent and estimated at s4000o0 0o0 a year on July 1, 1921. This was fol- lowed by q meeting of the general chair men of the railway unions n Chicagc
 in July at which 1t was decided to sub
 init the reduction to the men for accept
 ance or rejection.