Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-29

chicago. May es CBy the A. Pre- 1
Ndfustmsnt Of the wages Of approx |
nateiy 400 900 maintenance Of way en-
ployes o. the railways OF the country, |
snective July J. in accordance with de-
creases IN the cost Of living and wages |
Ia similar outside employment since the
decision o. The board last July. was pro- |
vided for IN a decision by the United
States railroad labor board and made
uuhiic tonight.
Ths decision is expected TO reduce
present payrolIs OF the railroads about
sts000. oeo per year and 70 reduce the
paw or tho majority Of the maintenance
% waymeu I'VE cents per hour. but i'm
portant classes Of the employees were
given smaller cut. Under the major
'ty head were Included track laiborers
and ether classes usually designated as
common laborers."
The decision was signed by the three
railroad members Of the board and the
three members representing the public
group. A dissenting opinion was filed
BY the three members representing the
labor group The dissenting opinion
ccntcndcd that the wage scale provided
IN the decision was insufficient to sus-
tain lie on the basis OF American stan
darda
The boards decision followed the
roads Tor wage reductions and the
counter request ot several classes Of en-
rioyes for increased pay. These hear
inEs began in Chicago March 6th and
ended April 20 All except three or
four o. the larger railway systems of
The eontry were affected by the hearing.
which Included all classes Of employees
except those in train. yard and engine
service who were conducting negotia-
tions with the railroads which had not
terminated when the hearings began.
IN announcing 4 separate decision fof
maintenance of the way employees in
advance of IFS decision as to the other
-issses the board complied with a re-
lpucst made by the United brotherhood
% Maintenance or Way Employees and
Railroad Shou Laborers, which asked
That its case be given precedence ard
decided as speedily as possible. The
classes not embraced in the hearings
number from 80 20 IS per cent. OF the
total Of railway employees.
In the decision the board called at
icutiou 20 the fact that the present ad-
lusfmcnt was based on previous wage
tdJiriments IN -frst or which, on July
go. 1880. increased the wages OF al
-iasses OF employees approximately $780,
o00.N0o a wear and the SECOND, the de-
-Ision of July I. 1921. which slashed
about S40e 00ooo0 from the wages Of
iome two million em1oeys IN all parts
sf the country. These decisions Il was
pointed out were based upon
Horizontal Increases or decreases of the
t-aies prevailing prior 10 federal control
- the roads all OF which we're different
'ar different divisions Of .he same road
Thurs. j. was said. the minimum rates
authorized IN tiw present decision viii
apply only on a very few divisions oi
few roads IN small groups Of states
PRINCIPALS the southern and Eouthwest
All Of the former iiTefentisls wer'
cort nued IN the present decision. It be
irE stated that the wages Of this class
-f employees have not been standardized
ard Uniform throughout the country snt
VII nor he made - under the decision
Nndsr the decision they will range from
"a fo S5 cents an hour.
The decision asserted that under tht
new scale. common labor on the road
viii still be receiving a rate higher thar
that uaid similar labor in most othe
Industries on this point the decision
said.
The board Is OF the opinion tha
he hazards and hErdships OF the EN-
ploymens. The training and skill requir
3D. the degree OF responsibility to tn
public and other elements mentioned il
he statute transportation act Of 1890
combine 20 Justify the payment Of
setter wage 10 these employees than 1
1a,d n similar labor IN outside employ
mcnt"
in a statistical table based on the fig
ares on wages and the cost OF livin
By the department Of labor, which !
Incorporated in tns decision. the boar
declared that while the cost Of livin
iu March, 1891 Cast available govern
meat fEures) was approximately Il.
per cent over thatof December, 1911
The hourly rate Of nav for maintenanc
~ Wav employees under the present dec
sion wiu be s1.4 per cent. above the hour
y rates of December, 1917. and the pur
chasing power Of the WAGES Of employs
Affected by the present decision. will b
as over the purchasing power OF thei
wages 70 1917.
Under the terms Of the decision th
,asses designated as "coT|uon labor
ard estimated 70 number 1s7.fs0 weT
r1t cents an hour. Labor Of a sin
lar class employed around shops, rount
houses. yards and terminals. numberin
$3.50. also was cur cents an hou
DrawbridFs tenders and assistants pill,
sriver. difchinE and hoisti=g engineer
hremen. etc. were cut cents an hou
Thsy number 2a.74s. Section. track an
uaiutcrance forenen and assistant for
men were cut three cents an hour
Among other slashes were mechanic
n the maintenance OF way department
except those undsr the shop crafts agre
msnt who were cut four cents an hou
Mechanics helpers IN these same de
Bzrtnents. except those under the she
-rafts' agreement. were cut one eel
h A. hour. II was emphasized howeve
hat an % these were minimum rat
ard VIII not apply IN Uniform MANN
shrou-hout the country. but will be a
'ectsd ~ local conditions.
Tne decision was reached, = was sal
sefors the anuourceerf of the cut
,rsirhf rates, but was held up TO perm
ne eomnletion ~ the minority decisic
D. that both cauld be issued simuitan n
sus'r.
Railroad labor organizations listed
sartt-s - the dis1ute include besides [
t-ait~d Brotherhood OF Maintenance
Way EMPLOYEES and Railway Shop Labc
~ .hc Railway Employees departmei
American Federation of Labor Maini
a1as- of way Foremeu's association. ]
national brotherhood OF Stationa
Tirrmen and Oilers. brotherhood Of Pa
ray and Steamship CLERKS. iFreig
Handlers. Express and Station Employs
Rrf fhe American Federation q Rail- o.
Worker II was sts.ss. towever. III
5rsctically ar the men involved belong
10 -ns maintenance Of Wy o-ganizatic