Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-01
Effective July |, U. S,
Labor Boards Order
Reduction Will Aver
age Il Per Cent

Chicago, May 31.-(By The Asso-
cated Press.)-An estimated four
hundred million dollars will be slash
Cd from the nations railway wage bill
rhen an order cutting wages an av-
oraee of II per cent. to be handed
down tomorrow by the United States
Railroad Labor Board, becomes effec-
tive July /. The order affects mem
hers of 81 labor organizations. en-
ployed on 1o4 railroads.
While the decrease is specifically
applied only to the roads whose cases
have been heard by the board, the de-
cision says it may later be applied to
any other road asking hearing un-
der the provisions of the Esch- Cum
Minis transportation Act.
Percentages of reductions computed
by members Of the board, gave the
average of II per cent. and the same
source estimated the annual reduction
i, wages at approximately 100000
600.
The decision grants reductions
VARYING from five to 10 cents an hour,
or from to 10 per cent. and in the
case of section laborers, completely
wipes out the increase granted that
class Of employees by the S600,00O,o00
wage award of July 20, 1920. For
section men the reduction was APP
proximately 10 per cent. SWitchmen
and shop crafts were given a nine
per cent. reduction while the train
service men were cut approximately
seven per cent. Car repairerS were
cut about ten per cent.
Common laborer pay over which the
railroads made their hardest fight, is
to be reduced 6 to IL cents an
hours. cutting freight truckers aver
age daily wage of $500 for an eight
hour day. although considerable tes-
timonv offered by the roads, particu-
larlv in the south, showed common
lahorer's wages as low as $3.50 for a
ten hour day
Shop crafts employees ard train and
engine service men, except those IN
passenger service. are reduced eight
cents an hour. Construction and sec
ton foremen are reduced ten cents an
hour
Passenger and freight engineers
who were given increases of 10 and
10 cents an hour by the 1920 award,
are to be cut six and eight cents an
hour respectively. Passenger and
freight conductors, who received in
creascs of II IL and 10 cents in 1870
are cut II and 8 cents respectively
by the new schedule.
Train dispatchers and yardmasters
whose monthly earnings at present
average $500 to $3.50 are cut eight
cents an hour.
The smallest reduction will apply
to office boys and other employees un-
der IS years of age who will receive
five cents an hour less after July l.
Clerks are reclassified so that en-
tering clerks. usually young men and
women of IS to 20 years of age. will
receive monthly salary of $3.50
for the first six months and $3.50
for the second six months of SER
vice. Clerks with less than one
years experience now receive $12O.
A new monthly schedule for float
ing equipment employees on ferries
tugs and steam lighters gives cap
tains 5000; engineers 500; firemen
and oilers $40; on lighters and
barees, captains will receive 500 to
$50: engineers $40 to $160 and
mates 500.
The attitude of the railway I'M
ions toward the decreases ordered
remains to be determined. The big
brotherhoods are expected to meet
here July i to consider the board s
decision which is effective on that
date
Claiming they were hard hit by
the winter clump in business, rail-
road arrangements have been clam
oring for several months for lower
wages and the decision. tomorrow
will mark the first relief granted by
E the board since it set the advanced
scale more than 10 months ago.
The decision tomorrow will say
that since the 1920 wage award,
there has been decrease in the
cost of living and 1.-The scale Of
wages for similar kinds of work in
other. industries has in general been
decreased. These two points were
the chief contentious OF the railroads
before the board. Testimony was Of
Tered in the hearing which began
April Is and ended May Is. to show
reductions of 20 to so per cent. in
the cost Of food and clothing.
varying reductions in wages, mostly
Tor common labor, were also cited
by the carriers. 1.-THE board be-
HeVes'' the decision says. that.
based on the elements shown, the
decreases fixed are justified and re-
CURED"
Whatever may be said as to the
origin or contributing causes. there
mas been and is marked depression
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