The New York herald., 1921-03-15
New York Central's 23,00U
Unskilled Men Decide to
Reject 13 Cent an Hour
Reduction To-day.
ERIE REDUCES FORCES
Jersey Central Stuns Main-
tenance of Way Branch
by Sweeping 25 Per
Cent Decrease.
MORE ROADS PLAN ACTION
5000 Marine Equipment Em-
plOyees Notified of Is to %
Per Cent. Reduction,
Effective April 20.

| Flat refusal 10 accept a CUT Of 13
cents an hour In their pay wit he
made this morning by representa-
tiyes of the $4,000 unskilled wortmcn
employed by the New York Central
Railroad in answer 10 the roads ait
\ nouncement one week ago thai it
\ the desire of the representatives 81
the men that they get their case be-
fore the United States Railroad La
bor Board in the shortest possible
time. Flat refusal they intimate, 10
take any reduction at this time IL the
best and swiftest way.
The New York Central Of course.
will put the announced decreases into
effect on April /. The men viii ap-
peal Immediately 10 the United States
4 Labor Board, and in this manner a
4 full and free hearing of the entire
\ problem will be gotten into the rec
4 ord IT has been unofficlally agreed
between both sides that the first rep
/ resentative case that gets before the
/ United States Railroad Labor Board
shall he used as test case. and 4 is
considered altogether likely that this
case VIII be that of the New York
1 Central. whose position Is typical OF
every large road In the East.
Four Important yeIopmeuts.
Developments yesterday in the cam
paign Of railroad executives 70 cot a
dollar day from the wage Of every
employee We're:
Employees on marine equipment
were notified that wages In effect
April 20 1921. before the last increass
granted by the Labor Board. will be
reestablished April 20, 1921.
\ Jersey Central maintenance Of way
employees were notified OF n cut in
wages Of 10 TO IL cents an hour. or
approximately 25 per cent. which win
60 into effect April l.
The Erie Railroad inaugu-atea
4 plan of reducing expenses ~ cutting
operating forces all along its line.
officials Of the Railway Executives
Association we're summoned by wire
TO appear before the United States
| justify their stand against the ma
tional agreements. the war time meas
ure they say has greatly increased
| operating costs.
With railroad executives managers
associations and union officials holding
| separate conferences throughout the day.
and with anything but an amicable spirit
shown by both sides at the Joint con-
ferenccs. the labor problem. brought 10
a simmer last week by the announce
ment that 81 a day must be cut from the
pay Of every employee. came TO boil.
I II Il conceded. both by the railroad
men and by the union labor leaders. that
7 the confusion and differences OF opinion
between the roads and the men employed
+ by them has tended TO slow up eft-
I cheney. and both sides appear 70 be anN-
ious FOR the showdown before the United
states Railroad Labor Board. which.
they say. Is inevitable.
stick 10 Board's Programme.
Rail officials ere sticking closely 10
,he progremme as outlined ~ the bosri.
Briefly. when readjusimrnt of wages
becomes necessary q conference With
employees should be hold ala Il tao,
are unsuccessful IN reaching ~ amiSup.s
settlement then. and only then. t
problem may 20 before tho board t4r
settlement The union leaders. wnlle
they have made no formal statements.
have .&p IN conference AZ the Con.i-
nentel and Aicazsr hotels since la8t SAT-
urday morning. and X II evident they
will not soc the present wage scsie cut
without 4 slght u Is significant fact.
particularly 10 the railroad executives.
that prominent officials II nvc--> '"ss
of rail- employees have attended ui,ss
sessions.
'hc labor officials informailt take
the position that the figures and data
submitted st the conferences held thus
far 10 not justify the decreases planned.
II was learned yesterday that rcpreeen-
tstiyes of the labor unions have made
cost Of living survey liz the Eastern ter
ritory. bounded by Buffalo on the north
Pittsburgh on the West and Washington
On the south. and hope 70 be able 10
show that rent groceries. clothing aud
every other necessity Of the workihgnsu
have declined but insignificsntly IN re.
tail price.
Managers of tho marine departments
81 the railroads convcrainp ii New NorS
wont through their programme a. schcd-
l'ed yesterday. They met formally an'
recommended 10 the raiiroaa general
managers that rates paid 20 employees
on railroad floating equipment IN ApriA
1890. he reestabisned on Aprn TO- fsvs.
T3is IN effect Ions of the award Of ths
United Stats $ Railroad Labor Board last
summer. Notices we're posted last nignt
for the information 81 the men, and sni-
ployees win be invited TO attend 2 con-
ference 10 be called the latter part Of -.