White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-17
NEVADA NORTHERN COMPANY
MAY PROTEST WAGE AWARD

That the Nevada Northern Railway
Company may decide not TO accept
the decision of the United Statea
railroad labor board relative TO an
increase in the pay of shop employees
Is indicated in an interview with Cen
oral Manager George l.. Hickey by a
representative OF the News.
Notice of the boards decision as
printed in the Reno Gazette of recent
date and reprinted in the Ely papers
announces. in substance. that shop
employees of the Nevada Northern
railway have been granted an in
crease of 13 cents per hour over the
rate of pay as of March /. 1920. The
new rate is 81 cents per hour and
the award is retroactive to May |.
1899. The decision further SAYS that
on the basis OF his having worked
eight hours a day and twenty-five
days per month during the sixteen
months from March |, 1920, TO July
/. 1921. each employe affected by
The decision is now entitled to s4i6
ia back pay
Noting the boards decision, as
printed as a news story in the papers
mentioned a representative of the
White Pine News interviewed Cen
eral Manager Hickey. who gave the
railway company's stand in the exist.
ing situation.
As claimed by Mr.. Hickey. the au-
thority of the United States labor
board. as clearly defined in the trans.
portation act, is to pass on disputes
which may arise between any carrier
and its employees which the carrier
and employees are unable TO satisfac-
torily adjust between themselves
Further it is alleged by the rail
way company that at the time the
United States labor board handed
down their decision No. 2. in July
1920. there was no dispute whatever
existing between the Nevada North
ern Railway Company and its en-
ployes, but Notwithstanding this the
labor board included the Nevada
Northern in the list of roads to which
the Increase applied AS is claimed,
there having been no dispute as L
wages or otherwise existing between
the Nevada Northern railway and Its
shop employees il was considered
manifestly impossible for any such
dispute to have been before the board
aud hence there was no dispute to
be adjusted. and the order of the
board including the Nevada Northern
railway Is looked upon by the rail
way company as clearly irregular and
contrary to their authority under the
law.
Notwithstanding this fact Ii is said
the Nevada Northern railway decided
To be governed by the intent and
spirit OF the order To the effect that a
certain basis of rates should be es-
tablished for various classes of en-
ployes in railway service
General Manager Hickey quoted
the decision, which reads:
IT is further declared that this
board. finding it necessary to adopt
o basis for the rates and advances
decided on. has adopted the rates es.
tablished by or under the authority
or the United States railroad admin
istration. The intent OF this decision
Is that the named increases shall be-
added TO the rate OF compensation by
and under the authority OF the United
states railroad administration. The
ioard decides upon the present dis
pute that the rates of increase added
and applied to the rates established
by and under the authority of the
United States railroad administration
constitute for the said positions or
carriers named herein Just and rea-
sonable wage "
II is contended by the local railway
company that no language could
more clearly or positively set forth
decision as to the base rates es.
tablished long before those of the
United States railroad admlnistra-
tion and further reiterates that such
is the intent of the decision.
II is set forth by the Nevada North
srn Railway Company that 1t had not
been under federal control and had
not been paying rates established by
the United States railroad admins
tration. but by reason of being af-
tiliated with the Nevada Consolidated