Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-30
PENNSY SHOP MEN ARE
OPPOSED TO PlECEWORK
Continued from page /

whereas The pennsylyania RAIL
road has placed Into effect ~ the
Tudds Cut shops an arbitrary piece
work system. together with meth
od OF dealing with the employees that
borders on the archaic. and
.Wheresa, Employees of the VIII
fnngton shops have been forced
through coercive methods. to sign
up for piece work; and
Whereas. The point Of contest
was directly between supervisory Of
fieiaIs at the shops and individual
workers IN no cnae was the proposed
system discussed with duly chosen
representatives OF the ahopmen. the
penuaylvnnia System Federated Nd
visory Board and
Whereas, Unemployment condi-
tions In the district at this time are
go severe that job on most any con-
sideration must appeal 10 a starved
out worker, and the Pennsylvan
advantage of this unemployment
crisis. therefore he IL
Resolved. That the men at this
meeting which was called by the
Pennsylvania System Federated Adj
visory Board, go on record as stand
ing by our duly chosen representa-
tives: and that we raise our voices
In protest against the arbitrary man
ner in which the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company Is handling Its indus
trial relations at the Wilmington
shops. entirely disregardlne the rep
resentatives who have been chosen
by us In q regular and lawful man
ner: and be II further
''Resolyed. THAT we hereby and
herewith accept the advice of our
Federated Advisory Board TO stay at
work, accepting for the present the
arbitrary conditions forced upon ua
tg the thirty-year- -behind-t the time
labor policy of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company; resting our cases
individually and collectively in the
United States Labor Board. and the
Railway Employees Department of the
American Federation of Labor
Increasing Working Force.
Within recent weeks there has been
slight increase In the total number
Of employees on the Pennsylvania rail
road system As compared with q
minimum Of tSs.f2t reached in the
middle Of May. there are now in ex-
cess of ISIS 900 on the systems payroll
This increase in working force. 1t Is
understood does not reflect any
change in the management'a policy of
rigid retrenchment. but Is made neces-
sary by seasonal increase in freight
traffic and passenger travel.
When Pennsylvania first began re-
ducing its force in September Of last
year the total number Of employees was
at its height at 2Tg.5ea By December
Is there had been q reduction only to
2ss, ,s65. From this time on. however,
the cutting down Of the payroll
through dismissal Of worixmen in all
departments Of the system went ahead
AT more rapid pace. Hy the middle
Of February the total stood at 2fe.55s
and SO on down to the minimum reach
ed In May. The latest authoritive
figures available are for June Is. when
the total number of employees was
1885, .092. There has been some further
Increase since that date. however
That the road should find II necas-
sary TO recall some Of the workers laid
on earlier In the yea Is not surpra-
ia.s when tn lncree sd freight traffic
IN recent weeks Is considered g'cr
the week ended July rs there was 4
total of 125. 900 freight cars os All va
rieties handled on the system. Other
recent weeks have ranged from this
figure up to 10000. In the early
months of the year the weekly total
of freight cars handled fell az low as
104 900 The recovery was gradual at
the start, becoming more rapid in the
past two months. In any increase in
working force since July 1 the com
pany has the benefit of the 12ea cut
in wage scale effective since that da.e.
Two of the Pennsylvania shops, at
Wilmington and Holiday sburg. Pa,
will be put on a piece work basis on
August 1. The companys shop at Al
toona has been on a piece work basis
for some time.
AT the Pennsylvania railroad offices
today IL was stated that a poll OF the
men at the shops was taken 10 ascer-
tain whether they were in favor of the
piece work system. Practically every
man voted in favor of the system. in
Guiding the master mechanic, so the
plan was decided to go into effect the
first of the next month. which is Mon
day. The official said that at that time
400 men will be taken back. The men
are coming in now to take up their
former positions and they are agree
ing to the piece work system. lie
id that so men We're cut to the shops
this morning. being examined before
being taken on. and that there Is not
a sign of dissatisfaction relative to
the proposed plan.