New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-06-24
L rainnlen Chief
Predicts Fight
On Pay Ruling
Nothing Can Hold Employ
ees, Says w. G. Lee,
ii Working Rules Are
Changed Along With Cut
Fears Roads Wish More
Men Would Accept II Per
Gent Loss, He Asserts, if
the Owners Stop There
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


CLEVELAND, June 23.-"If time
and one-half pay and other work
ing rules and conditions are eliminated
and wage reductions are ordered as
well, no power on earth can hold the
railroad men of this country" w. G..
Lee, president of the Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, one of the big
Four" organizations of train service
employees, made this statement to-
right, when asked his opinion of the
attitude of railroad men generally to-
ward the recent decision of the United
States Railway Labor Board reducing
wages of 100000 rail men an average
of IL per cent.
A further decision of the board,
covering railroads not included in the
hearing which ended in the boards
order Of June l, is to be given within
the next week Both orders are to
become effective July l.
Heads of the big Four" brother
hoods and of the Switchmen's Union
OF North America, late in May, joined
i'll calling conference in Chicago
organization to "consider and pass
upon the award" A similar conference
was held year ago, when the board
announced it's famous wage increase
order.
Declares Men Will Fight
"Our men will not stand for elimina-
tion of time and q half pay and such
things, and wage reductions, too,
President Lee said, speaking not only
for his own organization, but indicat-
ing that he expressed the sentiment OF
the members of the other brother
hoods. ''In fact, they'll fight quicke,
against the loss of such things than
on the matter of wages" he continued
"Will the question of strike be
considered at that conference ?" he was
asked
''If the general chairmen do not want
to assume the responsibility of accept
ing the award, they will probably order
members" Mr.. Lee answered. "If the
members accept it, all right, but il
would be fifteen days anyhow, perhaps
thirty, before we would know the result
"Some of the chairmen will be fully
/ instructed by the members of the lines
they represent" he went on. 81 am al
ready receiving protests against accept
ances of any such an award but these
of course, are only the expression Of
individual lodges"
81 don't think our fellows would OBJ
ject to the IL per cent reduction il
they felt sure the railroads were not
coming right back for more" he an
swered. "That is, they are inclined moi
to make serious protest if they car
be assured the railroads will not gt
before the board again and ask further
reductions. ~
Depends on Railroads
Everything depends upon the rail
roads. We hope, by the time of ths
conference to have some indication
of what they propose to do.
eff they are going to ask for more
then our men may pass up this award
wait for the later decisions and vot,
on The whole thing at one time. Under
the law the new rates go into effec
July /. you know, whether they ar,
accepted by the men or not"
President Lees statement was tn.
first given by the head of any of tn,
sixteen recognized railway unions indi
eating the probable attitude of rail
road men Of the country toward tn,
| wage reductions ordered by the Rail
way Labor Board.