Evening journal., 1921-03-14
MANY R. R. men
LOSING JOBS
Brotherhoods Willing to
Confer With Management
on Wage Reductions
STRIKE TALK
is DISCOURAGED

The Pennsylvania Railroad. dur
ing the past few days. has notified
hundreds OF clerks that their SER
vices will no longer be needed. In
the passenger accounting depart
ment. $50 men and women have
heen laid off in this latest curtail-
ment move by the railroad company.
In the freight accounting depart
ment a similar cut has been an
nounced. In the car record depart
ment, $50 clerks have received no
tice Of their dismissal. Similar
measures have been taken within
the last day or two in several OF
the larger freight stations in various
parts of the city. Saturday fur
loughs have been discontinued.
While admitting that drastic re-
ductioDs are being made in the per-
sonnet Of the local railroad offices,
officials said that they were unable
10 state how many had lost their
jobs. as the reports will not be re-
ceived at headquarters until tonight
The officials also said that nothing
now had developed in connection
with the wage cut ordered on We'd
nesday by the board of directors.
regarding which a conference be-
tween officials and employees will be
held here this week.
The dismissal of hundreds OF
Office employees created a stir border
ing on panic among those who still
retain their jobs. In addition 20
letting out clerks. the company is
demoting many OF the minor Off
cials. Chief clerks and head clerks
are finding their positions abolished
leaving them to resume their duties
as clerks. In cutting down the office
force in the various departments
, the plan followed is to dismiss those
last added TO the payroll.
This is said to be in accordance
with the provisions Of the national
agreement. which governs clerks as
= well as operating employees. Appli-
cation of this rule has resulted In
dismissal OF hundreds OF womer
= hired by the company during the
war when clerical help was scarce
Because OF their comparatively
short period Of service. they are the
first 10 be laid or.
In reducing chief clerks and head
clerks to the ranks the company IL
also following out the procedure in
dicated by the national agreement
This has given rise to a situation IT
some departments OF the genera
-cfices where denoted head clerks
by reason Of their seniority owe
other head clerks. whose position
have not been abolished. are max
ing claim for the positions held b,
their fellow-employes who happei
10 be their juniors in the railroad
service. the confusion this has ere
\ ated is considerable. but il is al
being blamed on the national agree
ment. which the company is boun
q observe through the operation O
the transportation act.
outside OF the general Office force
tile same thing is going on anon
Office workers on all parts Of IN
Pennsylvania system. The last take
on arc the first laid or. regardles
OF whatever standing the ncwcom
ers may have in the matter Of eff
cheney. In some Offices there hav
been dismissals on a considerabl
scale on as many as three and fou
occasions since January I.
Among the railroad brotherhoo
members, Il is stated, whatever dec
sion may finally be reached by IN
United States Railroad Labor Boar
relative TO the Pennsylvania Raj
roads proposed wage cut, will
accepted. The brotherhood Official
. say they do not expect the wage C,
to be authorized by the board. Tai
Of strike in case the decision is ur
> favorable is being discouraged
the brotherhood officials.
II. + Core, chairman Of the Erie'
ance committee OF the Brotherhood
OF Locomotive Firemen ana Ems
neers is quoted as saying that D
!. expects no strike nor any troub
over the wage question. Mr.. Coz
said: "I firmly believe both sid'
will adhere to the finding OF n
Labor Board Both the Pennsy
vania and the Reading are open an
fair in this matter and so are n
men employed by these roads. Bot
sides realize they are up against Il
The railroad officials realize. as q
the men. that there have been con
paratively few real reductions in n
matter Of cost OF living. so both sid
are almost equally affected. a
confident no strike or trouble wi