Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-06-07
SAB. GOO. 900 RAIL
WAGE CUT MADE
Maintenance OF Way Workers
Pay Is Slashed BY Board.
IS BASED ON ADJUSTMENTS
Railroad Labor Board Orders General
Decrease Banging Trom ! 70 >
Cents an Hour. Effective
on July Z.


maIuteuanee uf way railway employees
are cut frnm 1 Go 3 cents an hour. be-
ginning July 4. according Go q de-
cisiou announced by the railroad la
Dor beard The slash win mean an
annual saving u approximately S4s.-
10000 un pay rolls.
The decision means return 20
practically the same scale as that
prevailing February -. 1890. when
the roads were turned back 20 their
owners. and Is considered Indicative
az the size ~ cuts that viii be made
In the scale IL workers in other de-
partmeuts
"A dissenting opinion IS filed by three
labor members ~ the board Il Is
believed o. De- the first time dissent
has been registered under the sigma
ture ~ an members 81 "a group.
Called insufficient.
TIE labor group contends that the
wage sale provided IN the decision
T. insufficient 20 sustain life on any
thin- IKE the basis ~ American stand
ards. They cite tables and opinions
az social workers and arbitration spe-
riaIIsfs % sustain the dissent.
The pay scale ~ maintenance Of
way employees after July / win be
from - tn - cents m hour as CON-
parcel with the present rate Of 3 20
- cents.
I'm announcing a separate decision
for this class ~ rail workers, the
hoard states that Il Is complying with
q request made by the United Broth
erhood 20 Maintenance Of Way En-
pIoyees and Railroad shop LabOrers.
which asked that its case be given
precedence.
The board calls attention 20 the
fact that this adjustment Is based
On previous wage adjustments both
hy the director ~ railroads under
federal control and by the railroad
Iahur board since that time
All matters were based upon hori-
z0ufaI Increases o. decreases Of the
scales prevailing before federal con-
trol. au uf which were different In
various parts ~ the country and on
different divisions % the railroads.
The minimum rates authorized In
the present decision viii apply only
an few divisions tn a small group
a. states. principally In the South
urf Southwest.
The decision says I'm part:
THE board IS ~ the opinion that
rfter the reduction under this de-
c-S-nn. common labor on the railroads
win sfll pc receiving. as a rule. a
wage fin excess ~ that paid 20 sim
liar labor M other industries. and
TINT the same wall De true Of an other
classes IL labor covered by this de-
cIsinn
Tie board is ~ the opinion. how
ever. that the hazards ~ the EN-
tlnvment. the training and skill re-
CURED. the degree ~ responsibility
O. the public. and other elements
contained In that statute (transpoc-
tntion act ~ 1900 combine 20 Justify
the payment ~ better wage 10 these
employees thar j. paid 10 similar
labor On outside employment.
Get Living Quarters.
sOn n very considerable number
n reads the foremen and section men
are furnished by the carrier. living
quarters and fuel.
Moreover. the hoard IS not In SYM
pathy with the idea that n govern
ment tribunal. empowered 20 tx n
fust and reasonable wage for men en-
gagged On serving the public In the
transportation Industry. should be
cuntr0lled by the one consideration
~ the Tow wages that may be paid
O. other labor in q period 81 tenn
porary depression and unemplOy-
ment. u Is but Just 20 say that rail-
road mana Eements have indicated no
desire Tor such a result"
IN dissenting the three labor men,
hers. A. q. Wharton. Albert Phillips
and W. l. McNIenimen. assert that
under the new scale ~the carr ngs OF
this large group u railroad employees
win not provide the father 81 a fam
Us with as much food as Is allowed
rOnvicts In the Cook county Jail"