Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-11
SKILLED men
NOT AFFECTED
BY WACE.CUT
Practically all Roads in West
and, Big Ones in East
Plan Reduction.

move Oy the n0LlOnS railroads TO cut
wartime wage scales, long forecast by
swing today. Following the lead Of
several lines which earlier had an
nounced cuts, the New York Central
and New York, New Haven & Hart
ford railroads, in the east, and 4vir-
tually every railroad in the west, an
nounced wage reductions yesterday.
Further statements from lines that
have not announced cuts were pre-
dicted today.
Arrange Conferences.
Onicials; Of various lines today were
arranging conferences with employees
in an effort to reach agreements on
the proposed reductions.
The plans as announced affect only
unskilled and senni-skilled labor. Men
engaged in the actual operation Of
trains, telegraph and station agents
are not included.
The New York Central and the
New York, New Haven & Hartford.
whose reduction announcements in
cluded men in IS classes of labor,
were expected to open negotiations
with their men next week. Arrange
ments for early conferences also were
reported being made by the Santa Fe:
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul, Chi
Cd6o SIcdI w VeSIcIu, SuACd6O, 1soCh
Island and Pacific. and the Chicago
and Northwestern. all with head
quarters at Chicago.
The Long Island railroad met un-
skilled employees representatives here
yesterday and failing of agreement.
announced the matter would be placed
before the railroad labor board. Union
Pacific officials it was reported. also
failed yesterday to reach an agree
ment with maintenance Of way en-
ployes. in a meeting at Omaha, Neb.,
and decided to submit its wage prob
lem TO the labor board.
Arranging Wage Cut.
A plan to- carry out wage reduction
announced Wednesday by the Penn
sylvania railroad was, reported from
Philadelphia to be in the making by
executives of the railroad. The Phila-
dElphia & Reading railroad called a
conference with unskilled employees
tor March Is; and the Lehigh Valley
;4Ad Ontario& Western railroads We're
expected to issue statements in re.
,Hage reductions today. ~.
T The New York Central announced
April 16 and the New York. New
Haven & Hartford cut will be effecs
tive April Is. 'F},
f. Twelve subsidiary lines of the New
York. Central will follow its lead. i,
was reported.
All reductions are based on the
federal labor boards awards Of las,
July, when a $60O.00O.000 increase
was granted to 100000 workers.
T. Individual Dealings.
Chicago. March 11.-Steps to bring
about reductions in the wages OF
! skilled employees probably will be
taken by many railroads Throughout
the country as soon as adjustments
can be made in the way Of unskilleG
workers. according to officials of the
Association of Railway Executives.
Such reductions If made. will be
handled individually by the variou:
roads in the same manner that pres
ent announcement of cuts in pay fol
| unskilled men now are being made
! it was said, with no attempt at con.
certed or simultaneous action by ths
railroads.
In line with this policy. however
/ it became known that the associa.
| ton at meeting in New Haven
Conn.,. on March 4 adopted a resolu-
! ton that it was the sense of the meet.
ing reductions in the pay of skilled
employees were not considered .objec-
! tionable by the. executives.
The matter then was referred tG
the individual roads.
: Officials Of the association today
predicted announcements of Il read
justment of the wage scale of skilled
men, similar to the one made few
days ago by the Pennsylvania lines
soon would be Forthcoming.
From the labor side little comment
came on the announcements Of pro.
posed reductions in uskilled employees
wages. 1t was said the matter would
have to come before the labor board
and that the unions chief concern
now was to see that the roads acted
in accordance with the transportation
act. Belief that the proposal OF the
/ Pennsylvania road to confer individ.
ua1ly with the various drafts over q
new wage scale might not be in ac-
cordapce with the spirit of the trans,
+ portation act was expressed by labo,
officials. They said one conference
| must be called covering all crafts.
No word had been given out by the
| labor board concerning the request o1
! the unions that group Of railwa,
/, executives be subpoenaed for cross
questioning, Frank P. Walsh. attor.
ney for the brotherhoods. and var;ou:
the board session Monday when a re.
ply, to the request for subpoenaes !:
expected. g#
Would Cut Rates.
Chicago. March 1.-THE Chicago
& Alton railroad will take steps te
reduce the pay OF it's employees w
| 6. Bierd. president. announced to
7; day. The reductions will' be made Il
bring about an ultimate reduction IL
freight and passenger rates whicf
l. A.. -.
bear" Mr.. Bierd said.
Mr., Bierd said he felt that the ma
| tional agreement question. now be
| fore the railroad labor board shoult