Evening journal., 1922-07-03
No Justification for Railroad
Strike Because Of Wages
Economic Status of Railroad Workers Still 1870 Above 1914
Despite Cuts-Study BY National Industrial Conference
Board Shows Railroad Wages Higher Than Manufacturing
Wages

An analysis of the wages OF rail-
road employees by The National In
dustrial Conference Board, 10 East
39th street, New York City, shows
that the wage cut recently ordered
by the United States Railroad Labor
Board leaves the four main classes
of men affected with an economic
status which is nearly 10 per cent.
higher than their position in 1914.
OF the four classes affected. the
ear men stand at the top of the list
with an increase of purchasing
power OF 33 per cent. over the 1914
level, followed by unskllled labor,
whose increase amounts TO 10 per
cent; that of the clerks 1 3 per cent,
and OF skilled shop mechanics.
The study also demonstrates that
even after the new wage cuts go
into effect railroad employees will
still constitute a preferred class Of
Industrial labor, as their increase in
real earnings and their actual money
wages are still materially above the
real wages and actual wages paid to
employees Of other Industries per-
corning a similar class OF service.
The Conference Boards statement,
made public today. is as follows:
The majority of railroad employees
whose wages will be reduced after
July LIST by order OF the United States
Railroad Labor Board are included
IN the shop forces. the track labor
ers, the clerks and the signalmen.
Various other classes. such as the
stationary firemen and oilers have
also had their wages reduced by the
Labor Boards decision. but these
form only a small percentage OF the
total number OF railroad employees.
The shop forces include two main
classes Of employees, the skilled me-
chanics or the so-called locomotive
crafts, comprising the machlnists,
blacksmiths. boilermakers, sheet
metal workers and electrical work
ers, and the car men, whose duty II
Is to repair freight and passenger
cars. The maintenance OF way ca
ployes include, besides track labor
ers, a number of skilled mechanics.
but as these mechanics are paid at
the same rates as the mechanics in
the shop crafts. unskilled labor only
was taken account OF by the Board
in making the proper estimates. The
Game applies toNsignal men. who are
chiefly electrical workers or unskill-
ed laborers.
The skilled mechanics OF the shop
crafts have had an average working
week of 4S.o6 hours since the sign
ing IN 1919 OF the National Agree
ments defining the working condi-
lions OF this group OF employees.
Their rate OF pay up to the present
time has been SIT an hour for jour
neymen mechanics not engaged in
autogenous welding, the autogenous
welders receiving a differential Of
sos per hour in addition 10 the reg
ular mechanics rate. The recent
decision of the Labor Board cut the
rate OF skilled mechanics s.07 perl
hour, making a new hourly rate OF
$40. II IS fair to assume that the
average number OF hours OF employ
ment per week will not be less after
July 1st than It has been during the
past two and one-hslf years. and for
the purpose OF estimating the earn
lngs OF skilled shop mechanics under
the wage cut. 4s.06 hours have been
taken as a basis. At this rate. skill
ed mechanics will receive pay for
As hours at $40 cents plus .06 OF
one hour overtime. at time and one
half, making their average weekly |
earnings s33.67 per week. This
makes their average hourly earn
ings after July LIST. SOL. The aver
age weekly earnings Of this class OF |
employees in 1914 was S19.73. which |
indicates a net increase over 1914
of II per cent. in estimated average !
weekly earnings after July LIST. The /
average hourly earnings OF this class J.