The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-06-08
RAIL WAGE CUTS
ALLOWED BY BOARD
MEANS MILLIONS TO ROADS
UNIONS PROTEST FOR
LIVING WAGE"

Chicago June Cover the stron
protest of the labor representative
of the United States railroad labo
board new wage cut of seven cent
an hour for railway shop mechanic
and nine cents for freight car me-
cutting 100000 shop men approx
mately $60,OOO,OOO a year, was or
dered by the board Tuesday.
The new wage reduction brough
an estimated added saving of $50,
669,347 annually to the railroads
following on the heels of $4,000,
600 cut in the wages of maintenance,
of way laborers last week. The shol
crafts decision becomes effective OF
July /, the same date as last week
order.
The minority report of the labor
leaders pointedly stated that the ma
jority decision was made with nc
consideration of human needs" ano
charges that it fails to carry out the
function of the board to set "just
and reasonable" wage.
''The tendency of this decision is
to vindicate the propaganda of the
railroads and consequently condemn
such statements as the employees
have been able to bring to public at
tention," the minority report said.
1t was signed by Albert o. Wharton,
W. L. McMenimen and Albert P.
Phillips, the three labor representa-
tives.
Supervisory forces of the railroad
shops were not decreased. After due
consideration, the decision said, it
was felt that the duties and response
bilities of such forces warranted
maintenance of present ratees.
The reduction for mechanics aver
aged a little better than eight per
cent. machinists, boilermakers, black
smiths, sheet metal workers, car men
Except freight car men), moulders,
cupola tenders and core makers and
the regular and helper apprentices
receiving a cut of seven cents an
hour. Freight car men, commonly
known as "car whackers" are the OBJ
iect of some of the heaviest assaults
by the roads. in their battle for lower
largest cut was ordered for the "car
because, the board said,
it believed that their work did not re-
uuire the same skilled service as other
branches of car mems work This
heavier reduction for the freight car
men came under especially severe
criticism in the minority report, the
labor members declaring there was
no justification for discrimination in
,ar work.
Cleaners Lowered 40 Cents
Car cleaners who now receive an
average of 1918 day were cut five
,ents an hour or DO cents day.
The mechanics. whose daily rate
low AVERAGES from S6.11 for cleo
rical workers to s6.28 for black
miths, will lose Sc cents day un-
Ter the new decision. BRINGING their
ailv wage to approximately S5.7O.
The boards latest decision. which
5 to be followed by reductions of
ailwav. clerks. teleeraphers and all
tber classes of railway employees ev-
ent the train service men. was brief
nd offered no exclamation Of how
ne new rates were arrived at. This
mission brought more fire from the
issenters. who declared the major
" report did not consider human
eeds." ignored the pleas of the en-
loves for Giving waoe" and made {
o attempt to show that mechanics
re not entitled to such a standard" c
I was learned Tuesday that the
nited States Labor Boards decis
n affectine telegrapbers. the next 3
ass of emploves to be dealt with )
ruling. will not be handed down Il
n some time, and undoubtedly will d
# he issued in time to become effect t.
e July I the date tbe maintenance d
wav and shon crafts decisions take f
feet. The reason for this. it was c
,plained. is that the chief ouestion p
the telegrapher's case is not so
uch how much money shall be paid. Il
It how inequalities of pay on diff a
rent roads shall be settled. This m
after is expected to take several W
eeks more of discussion by board [
ambers. al
The effect of this delay on the tt
ssible strike would be considerable st
r telegraphers are considered one ht
the most important unions IN the w
long the most difficult to replace fl
ickly. OF
The decision contained numerous 2
oles. prepared by the boards sta p1
tical department, designed to show
1t all the wages reduced had not st
en- reduced more than the reduction to
the cost of living and that the to
RELEASING power of the present pay be
s higher than the purchasing power
the higher wages paid during the W
srs since 1917. WI
1t is also said that the board be- fo