Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-06-09
IS
YEARLY Swing
eTRoNG PROTEST BY LABOR REP.
REsENTATIvES BOARD MAKES
CUT IN SHOP WORKERS PAY
Just And Reasonable Wage 10 Not
Established by Majority Declares
Minority Opinion on
Decision

Chicago-Oyer the strong protest O
The three labor representatives on tn
:, United States railroad labor board,
:. new wage cut OF seven cents an hou
r for railway shop mechanics and nin'
: cents for freight car men cutting 400.
D 600 shop men approximately $4,000,
: 600 a year was ordered by the board
Tuesday.
The new wage reduction brought an
estimated added saving of $50, 1858, 547
annually to the railroads, following on
the heels of a S5O,00O000 cut in the
wages of maintenance of way laborers
last week. The shop crafts decision
becomes effective July l, the same
date as last weeks order.
"The tendency of the decision is to
vindicate the propaganda of the rail-
roads and consequently condemn such
statements as the employees have been
able to bring to public attention. the
minority opinion said 1t was signed
by Albert O. Wharton, w. l.. McAIeni-
men and Albert Phillips, the three la
Dor representatives.
The reduction for mechanics aver.
aged little more than per cent, all
maGhinsts, boilermakers, blacksmiths,
sheet metal workers, electrical work
ers carmen Except freight car men)
moulders, cupola tenders and core |
makers and the regular and helper APP |
prentices receiving a cut of cents an
hour. Freight car men, commonly
known as "car knockers" and the OBJ
ject of some of the heaviest assaults
by the roads in their battle for lower
wages, were cut cents.
The larger cut was ordered for the
"car knockers" because the board said
it believed that their work did not re-
quire the same skilled service as other
branches of carmen's work. This
heavier reduction for the freight car
men came under especially severe
in the minority report, the
labor members declaring there was no
justification for discrimination in car
work.
Car cleaners, who now receive an
average of $3.19 a day, were cut 5
.ents an hour, or 40 cents a day.
The mechanics whose daily rate now
Iverages from $6.11 for electrical WORK
rs to $6.2S for blacksmiths, will LOSE
e cents day under the new decision. {,
bringing their daily wage to upproxi- I
nately $50.
The boards latest decision which is
o be followed shortely by reduction d
or railway clerks, telegraphers and
II other classes of railway employees n
Except the train service men, was :
REF and offered no explanation of b
ow the new rates were arrived at. +
his dismission brought more fire fro-
he dissenters who declared the ma a
ority decision did not consider "hu- !.
IAN needs" ignored the pleas for >
living wage" and made mo attempt ("
} show that mechanics are not en-
tied to such standard" /,
Suggestion for "some recognized q
to be worked out by the T
GARD and used as basis for future ~
age adjustments was contained in M
lie minority report, which consumed W
overall times the number of pages in Ar
lie majority decision. The labor men, at
ers felt, they said, that the board VI
should initiate a study which shall II
etermine the amount necessary 70 IN
eet some recognized standard and
must use its results as q basis for ~
s decisions and that it must, through de
lose decisions transmit this inrorm;; ri,
on to the public" mi
The decision, the minority report nj
tended ito substantiate the -
,sition of the railroads that wages
led not be established with reference m,
the needs of the family" contend 60
z that a minimum wage for the shop Of
ats should be so cents an hour. "
ould mean a rate OF 81 cents for no
filed mechanics. p,