The St. Mary banner., 1922-06-24
THIRD WAGE SLASH
FOR RAILROAD MEN
Labor Boards Ruling Affects
100000 Clerks, Station
Men and Signal Men.

600 railway employees, by cutting
clerks, signal men and stationery fire
men from 2 to cents an hour, the
United States railroad labor board
Friday announced another wage
slash, bringing total reductions under
the boards orders up to $136,000,O0G
beginning July l. The clerks were cut
3 and 4 cents an hour, according to
their classification, the signal men 5
cents and firemen cents.
Approximately 100000 railway en-
ployes will share the total reduction
which will result in a strike vote of
10 railway labor bodies. The voting
Is already under way in seven unions
and the other three affected by Fri
days order are expected to mail their
ballots Immediately.
A dissenting opinion protesting
against any reduction was included in
the decision, as was the case in the
two previous cuts for the maintenance
of way laborers and the shopmen. The
minority decision Friday was signed
by Arthur o. Wharton and Albert
Phillips, both labor members. w. l..
McManimen, the third member Of the
labor group is in the East on an in
vestigating trip for the board.
Definite recognition of a living
wage" and Saving wage" was made
for the first time by the board in Fri
days decision. Although abnormal
postwar conditions were pointed out
as distractions to fixing any scientific
living or saving wage at present the
board declared that as soon as this
condition cleared away it would give
increased consideration to all the in
tricate details incident to the scien-
tific adjustment Of such wage"
The bulk of those hit by the new cut
will be 100000 clerks, those with two
years experience or more, are cut 3
cents an hour. Other clerks are cut
4 cents, and beginners instead of the
former minimum months pay Of SGT,
will get $50. After the first six
months they will receive $40 instead
Of. the former rate of $77.50. Storekeep-
er, chief clerks, train and engine crew
callers, train announcers and baggage
room employees will be cut 3 cents.
Under the Accent reduction come JAM
itors, watchmen, office boys, messen-
gers, and freight handlers as well as
common laborers around stations and
warehouses.
Telephone girls who, the board de-
clared, have suffered from improper
tionate increases and decreases here
tofore, received the most welcome
news of the order when a minimum
wage of $S5 a month was fixed by the
board with the further proviso that
any hello girls" who receive more
than that amount at present shall not
suffer any reduction.
The 10000 signalmen received the
heaviest cut of the group, being re-
duced five cents an hour, with help
ers suffering cent slash. Signal
foremen, assistant foremen and in
spectors, however, escaped with no
r00uct1on WHATSOEVER.
The 5000 train dispatchers likewise
escaped q cut, the board declaring the
nature of their work and their re-
sponsibilities warranting continuance
of the present rates.
Stationary engineers, firemen and
oilers numbering 10000 escaped with
the smallest slice from their pay en-
velopes, being cut only two cents an
hour
Executives Of the firemen and oilers
union, the signalmen and the clerks
brotherhood decided, at conference
with eight other labor unions in Gin.
cinnati last week, to issue strike bal.
lot II their wages were reduced The
six shop crafts and the maintenance
Of way union also in conference al
ready have their strike vote under
way. The other participating union,
the telegraphers, did not receive cut
and is not expected to ballot at this
time. A decision covering the $4,000
telegraphers will be issued by the
board later.
The board explained that the clerks
cut was lighter than some other class
es because they had suffered consid-
erable loss from certain changes in
their rules and because they have nev.
er been highly paid compared with
other classes" The greater reduc-
ton for beginners was ascribed to the
fact that the majority "have not as
yet assumed family responsibilities"