The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-10
OVERTIME EXTRA PAY
And EIGHT-HOUR DAY
BEFORE RAIL BOARD
tRv Associated Press,

CHICAGO, Jan 10-Extra pay for
overtime work and the eight-hour day
were the principal points sought by
railroad clerks in controversies over
the rules of the clerks national agree
ment which were up for consideration
by the United States Railroad Labor
board today. The board expected to
complete its draft Of new rules within
two weeks and proniulgation of a new
set of rules to replace the agreement
made under federal control is looked
for by February
Eight rules of the old agreement
affect the clerks pay and these rules
have been the subject of the greatest
disagreement in negotiations during
the last few months. Like the national
agreements of other groups of railroad
employees. the clerks agreement was
ordered replaced by new rules which
the board directed the employees and
the carriers to draw up by agreement
! The disagreementS resulting from
such negotiations were referred to the
board.
Submit Disagreements
Forty-four roads submitted disagree
ments on Rule 81. calling for time and
one-half pay after eight hours work,
which the clerks wish continued. Eight
roads have agreed with their clerks to
pay pro rata time after eight hours,
but other carriers are asking no extra
pay for the ninth hour, pro rata for
the tenth, and time and one-half only
after 10 hours
The large majority of carriers de-
sire to abolish time and onehalf for
Sunday and holiday work, also, except
after 10 hours.
Monthly and weekly bases of pay
are sought by about two-thirds of the
roads involved as opposed to a daily
rate basis which the employees ask to
| be continued. Another rule which the
employees ask to be retained provides
| three hours pay for two hours work
/ for calls, and time and one-half there
after when the full weekly assignment
of hours has not been worked. The
roads seek elimination of any punt
| tive payment under this rule.
Half Roads Agree.
Another rule specifying time and
one-half for work done before and
after the regular work period was
agreed to be only half of the roads
/ bringing disputes to the board. The
carriers who could not agree to this
rule desire to pay only pro-rata pay
| for work continuous to the regular
assignment.
! The eight-hour day, provided by
rule 4S has been agreed to by % car
riers but 20 roads objected to certain
! features of the rule. The main objec-
ton was in its application, especially
in the case of men having light or in
termittent employment. Other car
riers ask a nine or 10-hour day.
| A large majority of roads indicated
their desire TO pay straight monthly
salary for all services in such cases
of intermittent work. This would elm
mate all overtime and would apply
mainly to agents at small stations
where the train service is infrequent
to gatemen, announcers, train crew
callers and similar employees.
Seek Elimination
Elimination of personal office
forces. usually chief clerks and stem
iographers from jurisdiction of the
agreement is sought by most of the
roads. This, question has come up in
several cases already heard by the
board. The decision in each instance
was that there was no distinction be
tween such employees and the general
group of clerks.
Other important rules in dispute are
those governing seniority and promo
ton. Employees in some cases seek tc
have seniority the sole requirement
disregarding fitness or ability.
number of carriers brought special OBJ
lection to placing men in such posi-
lions as cashier or rate clerk merely
because of seniority, claiming that in
experienced men would be detri
mental to the service
In the case of rules agreed to by g
railroad and its employees, those rules
. will be effective, superseding the cor
responding rules of the national agree
ment. The rules disagreed on will be
replaced by those drawn up by the
board.