The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-02
DISPUTES FILED WITH BOARD SINCE
APRIL 1S, WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE
HEARING ON RAILROAD MATTER JUNE

Chicago. June 2.-Wage reductions
ordered by the railroad labor board
Wednesday, resulted from a combined
hearing involving railroads which filed
petitions TO cut the wages of one or
more classes of employees. The hear
ing began on April IS and the labor
and railroad representatives We're each
granted one week to present their
cases. The final date for submitting
board has been at work on the case
constantly since that date.
Reduction in the wages of laborers
in other industries and the declining
cost of living were set forth by the
railroads as the basis of their plea for
lower wage scales. The winter slump
in business materially hastened action
in the endeavor to cut down the coun.
try's railroad pay roll and many rail
road officials declared before the board
that their roads would be in the hands
Of receivers unless immediate relief
was provided
The campaign for lower wages was
begun in February when Brig. Gen.
w. W. Atterbury, vice president of
the Pennsylvania lines, first demand
ed the right to hire unskilled labor at
the rate prevailing in each roads ter
ritory. Gen. Atterbury brought his
demand to the board during the hear
ing on rules and working conditions,
which the board has not yet disposed
Of. At the same time Gen. Atterbury
demanded immediate abrogation of the
national ship crafts agreements, which,
he declared, would further reduce the
railroads labor bill by $500, 900, 900.
The board, however, took no action
on the demands at that time and it
distinct wage cases came to the board S
attention. The Erie railroad and the
New York Central lines then took
steps toward a reduction by present
ing the matter to their employees. No
agreement was reached, however, and
the disputes finally reached the labor
board.
Provisions of the Transportation Act
Of 1920 require that before any dis
pute is referred to the labor board,
both employees and employer shall
have made a sincere effort to effect
a settlement. In case no agreement
can be reached, the case may be re-
ferred to the board by one or both
parties. The board then summons the
disputes and holds a hearing at which
both sides are given opportunity to
present their arguments.
Following their hearings, the Erie,
which had already put a reduction in
force, was ordered by the board TO
restore the former rates and the New
York Central was denied permission
to make an immediate reduction, pend
ing a hearing Of the merits Of the
dispute. Defeat of the efforts of both
roads to cut wages was then the sig.
nal for a deluge of cases which be-
gan to pour into the boards offices.
Realizing the futility Of attempting a
separate hearing on each dispute, the
board combined all the cases for the
hearing which resulted in todays de.
cision.
After only one days deliberation,
the board made public q resolution on
May II, stating that prevailing condi-
tions justified a re-adjustment down
ward and that new wage order
would be issued on or about June ] =,
to be effective July /. The decision,
however. is not as comprehensive as
that which granted the 5000, 900 900
wage increase to railway workers on
July 90, 1920. Reductions under to-
days decision will be effective only
for the classes of employees named by
the railroads which filed disputes prior
TO April is and which appeared in the
hearing beginning on that date. The
increase last year affected all so.called
class / roads, including nearly 200 OF
the larger rail systems OF the country.
A new hearing will be begun June
6 TO include all disputes filed with the
board between April is and June
and speedy decision is anticipated In
stating that Wednesdays decision
would set precedent for subsequent
decisions.
Under the Transportation Act, seven
factors are prescribed for consideration
In determining 'just and reasonable
wages" OF railway employees. The
boards wage increase decision declared
all these factors had been given con-
sideration and that the rates estab-
ished We're considered just and reas.
enable. The decision at that time
said
"The board has endeavored to fix
such wages as will provide decent
living and secure for the children OF
the wage earners opportunity for edu-