New-York tribune., 1921-03-15
New Pay Cuts
Made bv Roads
I'm This District
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series of strikes. Approximately six
thousand workers are affected.
1t was The concensus Of opinion
among labor leaders that the sweeping
wage cuts proposed by the railroads
probably would be rejected by the en-
ployees. The first official announce
ment of their reported attitude is ex-
pected to-day. when representatives of
the workers on the New York Central
lines will meet in conference with Of
hclals OF this system at the Grand Cen
trail Station on the question of that
roads proposal to cut wages from 171a
to II per cent.
While union leaders declined to make
ofhclal statements. it is known that
the various organizations affected have
been holding secret conferences here
during the last few days and all prac-
tlcally have agreed to decline the pro-
posed wage cuts and permit the matter
to go before the Railroad Labor Board
Board at Chicago. These men contend
that the data and figures submitted
by the railroad heads do not show suf1i- =
cient cause for the reduction and can
not be substantiated at a hearing.
Workers Stand Virtually Fixed
That the railroad workers had de-
clded some time ago on the stand they
would adopt is indicated by their move
in requesting the New York Central
people to advance the conference with
their employees from March % to to-
day.
I'VE are about prepared to give our
reply now" said Anthony Stair.
spokesman of the United brotherhood
Of Maintenance of Ways Employees
and Railroad Shop Laborers. 1--WE have
given the matter careful consideration.
and will officially notify the railroad
officials at the various conferences
called by the several lines between
now and March %"
In addition to the conference of the
New York Central people union repre-
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad will meet with heads of that
line on the matter of wage cuts pro-
posed by them.
Thomas Healey, head of the Marine
Engineers Association, together with
representatives of the Masters, Mates
and Pilots Association, had their first
formal conference yesterday with Of
hcers of the New England Barge and
rover Association on the question Of
the proposed cut of $35 month in
the pay Of marine workers employed
on craft operating along the New Eng
land coast and Long Island Sound.
The meeting took place in the Offices
Of the Staples Transportation Com
pany, II Broadway.
At the close of the meeting Mr..
Healey said the matter would be laid
before the men and that a decision
would not be reached for at least three
or four days. Because of the large
numbers of men already out of Jobs
in the marine field and the generally
slack condition of the trade it is posi-
bic that the workers Will submit to the
reduction. Both sides have expressed
their determination t. do everything
to avoid q break. About / 800 men are
affected.
Railroad Managers Meet
The meeting of the railroad mana
gers at Is Church Street. with F.. M.
Rine, vice-president of the Lackawanna,
presiding, yesterday took on the tone
of general survey of the entire rail
road situation as it affected this port
The decision on the wage reductions
for marine workers OF the various
lres, however, was the main point dis
cussed. The schedules embodying the
submitted to the managers by the
marine superintendents of the different
lines and gone over by the managers.
The cuts decided upon consisted mere
ly in the proposed wiping out of the
raise granted the men on May /, 1920.
The railroad heads, in propc ing this
reduction. declare they base their ac-
tion on the decrease in living costs
according to figures issued by the
United States Department of Labor.
They are emphatic, however, in their
declarations that under no cir
cumstances will the basic eight hour
day be disturbed. The new schedules
mean a Is per cent decrease in the
wages of captains, mates and pilots,
16 per cent cut for licensed firem N
and oilers and 10 per cent reduction
for unlicensed fremen and oilers
Other workers will be reduced pro
rata. as they had been voluntarily
granted proportionate increases last
May.
1t was pointed out that the proposals
would be placed before the men by the
various lines at once, and that the
schedule could not become effective be-
fore April Is or May |. 1t is probable
that the workers will oppose the de
crease and throw the matter for CON
sideration before the Railroad Labor
Board. Little fear Of marine strike
is felt in railroad circles, it being
pointed out that many of the railroad
steam lighters are idle, with the in
dustry slowing up all along the line be-
cause of the prohihtive water rates.
Notice of the proposed wage reduc-
ons by the Central Railroad of New
Jersey was received by l.. A. Mckinley,
general chairman of the Federation of
Shop Crafts on the Central lines, and
Leslie E. Miller, general chairman of
the Central load for the United
Brotherhood Of Maintenance of Way
Employees and Railway Shop Labor
ers.
Argument Of Roads Disputed
Arguments submitted by the rail
road heads that the wage reductions
were justified by the cut in the cost
of living were disputed by the workers
representatives, who declined to take
any action until they had consulted the
various local unions on the question.
The new schedule proposing reduc-
tlon from As to 35 cents an hour for
track laborers, union leaders say, was
me largest suggested by any Of the
eastern roads They pointed out that
the New York Central had offered