Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-06-03
APPROVE
PLAN FOR PAVING HALF
OF ROAD At SEWAREN
To REDUCE PAY
Of TROLLEYMEN
10 Cents an Hour Cut to Be
Put Into Effect August l..
Strike Likely to Result.

Notice of a reduction of ten cents
an hour in the present wage scale
to take effect on August l has been
served on the employees of the Pub
lie Service Railway Company by the
president, Thomas N. McCarter.
August l is chosen as the time the
new rate will go into effect, as on
that date the present working agree
ment between the company and en-
ployes expires.
A statewide strike is threatened
by the trolley men who declare that
they will not accept the ten cent an
hour reduction. This will mean
that at least $500 platform workers
will go out.
The present scale is so cents an
hour for the first three months, SO
cents an hour for the next nine
months, SIS cents an hour after the
first year and 60 cents an hour for
platform men on one-man cars. The
new scale as submitted by President
McCarter provides for a wage of Al,
43 and As cents an hour, and so
cents an hour for operators of one
man cars.
The present wage scale was grant
ed the men May l, 1920. Prior to
that they received As, As and SO
cents an hour. That was granted
August /, 1919. The scale proposed
is similar to the one fixed by the
National War Labor Board of July
81, 1918.
In the communication or notice
sent to William Wepner, state pres
ident of the Amalgamated Assocla-
ton of Street and Electric Railway
Employees of America, President Nc
Carter of the Public Service COM
pany points out that the company is
not in a position to continue to pay
the present high wage.
"The companies" writes the pres
ident, "have been living from hand
to mouth for the past three years
He also goes into details concern
ing the conditions of the roads at
the present time and says:
Conditions arising from the war
brought the companies to this neces-
sity. 1t is not possible that this
condition of affairs should be con-
tinued, nor is it in the interest OF
the public or the employees that 1t
should continue if it were possible.
A stable company, operating upon a
sound financial basis, is the only
kind that can give adequate service
and, in the long run. provide the
men with permanent employment.
He speaks of the loyalty of the
men and the cooperation they have
given. and also of the "ceaseless and
strenuous" effort made by the COM
pany to the Public Utility Commls-
sion for a fare that would compen-
safe it for the increased costs which
have been incurred. The curtail-
ment of jitney busses, which give
unfair competition, is also spoken
of in the notice and the fact that the
company has lost upwards of two
million dollars in the last three
years forceably brought out.
Due to the fact that the cost OF
living is on the decline and that the
rates of pay are being reduced on the
steam railroads and as the prosperity
of the nation cannot return until
new and proper level has been arrlv-
ed at, the notice declares that in JUS
-e to the employees, public and the
company, commencing August l.
the wages shall return to the wage
schedule provided by the National
War Labor Board. in July. 1918.
The communication, however.
leaves the matter open for further
negotiation to be arranged by the
employees.
President Wepner. in reply to
President McCarter, states that the
Association realizes the trying and
acute period through which the
company is passing, but however,
insists "that the financial condition
of any company does not determine
a reasonable and living wage"
He further protests that the prof
its of an industry shall be obtained
through the unreasonable lowering
of an already very low standard of
living"
(Continued on Page Ten)