New-York tribune., 1921-03-11
Cut Applies TO 10000 on
Two New York Lines;
Thousands More in 9th
er Sections Are Affected
All Companies to
Confer With Men
Long Island Case Sent to
Labor Board After Men
Meet With the Officials

Eastern and Western railroads an
nounced their intention yesterday Of
reducing wages. In this city the
New York Central, New York, New
Haven e. Hartford and Long Island
railroads made their plans public.
Almost every road in the West with
headquarters in Chicago has joined
the movement, according to dis
patches from that city. Among
them are the Santa Fe, Chicago.
Milwaukee & st. Paul, Chicago G.
Great Western, Chicago, Rock Island
& Pacific and the Chicago & North
western.
The Western roads intend 20 cor
suit their employees and endeavor to
reach an agreement before cutting
the mems pay. If these efforts fail,
the question will be taken before the
Railroad Labor Board. The Chicago,
Rock Island G. Pacific and the Chi
cago & Northwestern notified their
employees to meet with officials Of
the roads in Chicago on March IS
and March 21, respectively.
Must Be Cut, Says Wells
Wages must come down." said A. G.
Wells, president of the Santa Fe.
Everybody knows that. We will, in
few days, as start in general read
maintenance of way and shop workers,
especially the unskilled workers, to
come to Chicago and agree on more
seemly wage scale"
The New York Central announced
wage cuts affecting $4,000 employees In
eighty-fve classes OF labor. The re-
ductions to be put in effect by the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Company will apply 10 5000 un-
skilled and 1900 skilled employees.
Both companies have called for con-
ferences with representatives Of their
employees for the purpose OF reach
ing an agreement as TO the revision in
rates of pay. The New York Central
reduction will become effective April
16, and the New York. New Haven E.
Hartford's will go into effect on April
Is, according to the announcements
given out yesterday.
Long Island Calls Conference
The Long Island Railroad also has
oaIlaH fOc 49, ~,
to discuss reduction in wages, to go
into effect April /. A conference with
representatives of unskilled labor was
held yesterday at Jamaica, and the
company proposed a reduction in the
present hourly rate of such labor from
48l2 cents an hour to 40 cents. No
decision was reached and the matter
will go to the Labor Board for review
and decision, according 10 a statement
given out by j. R. Savage. superin-
tendent, last night. The publicity de-
partment of the road said the Long
Island probably would be guided by
the recent action of the Pennsylvania
Railroad in reducing salaries in all
departments.
From other lines in New York yes
terday came intimations that similar
announcements might be expected
The New York, New Haven & Har.
ford notice is addressed to the classes
of employees whose rates of pay were
increased in accordance with the de-
cision of the Federal Labor Board last
July. The hearing in the matter of re-
ducing the wages of the skilled labor
has not been fixed, but the hearing
with regard to unskilled labor will be
held IN Boston to-day, the announce
ment said. and will propose a wage re-
ductlon of 40 per cent. The classes af
fected include supervisory forces, main
tenance OF way, shops, offices, station
forces and dining car and restaurant
employees. The attention of the men is
called TO changes in conditions since
present rates of pay were made effec-
tive These changed conditions JUS
Try and require reductions in the ex-
lstlng rates" the notice says.
The New York Centrars subsidiary
lines, 1t was said yesterday, would
probably follow the lead of the parent
organization and arrange for wage re-
auctions. The subsidiary lines are the
boston & Albany, the Michigan Cen
tral, the Big Four, Pittsburgh & Lake
Erie, Lake Erie e. Western, Ohio Can-
trail, GAINESVILLE & Western, Kanawaha
Michigan, Kanawha g. West Vir-
ginia and the Indiana Harbor Belt
railroads. The Boston g. Albany. it
was explained, generally acts with New
England roads, and thus far no general
wage reduction in that district has
developed.
Conferences To Be Held
New York Central officials will meet
with representatives of the eighty-five
classltications affected by the new OF
der, at a date and place yet to be de-
clded, to arrive at an agreement upon
the new scales. The notification given
out yesterday follows closely upon a
similar notice addressed to all the COM
pany's unskilied labor. numbe ring prac
tically 10000 workers. which was the
subject of 6 conference bet-een the
railroad officials and employees repre-
sentatiyes at the Grand Central Term
inal last Tuesday. at which the COM
pany proposed a reduction of the paw
for unskilled labor from a range $oa
4811 to 81 cents an hour to maxi
mum of 40 to AS cents.
Yesterdays notification affects en-
ployees of the New York. Central in
practically every department betwce,,