New-York tribune., 1922-05-31
Maintenance ofWayUnion
OrdersVote on Walkout:
Would Start by July 5
and Affect Over 478.OOO
Shop Crafts Give
Roads UItimatunn
Told to Meet Labor Board
Rules Or Face Tie.Up;
Firemen Propose War if
Their Scale Is Reduced

CHICAGO, May 30 by The AS
sociated Press Strike warnings
involving 100000 railroad men in
all parts of the United States were
served in three cities to-day as re-
suit Of the recent wage cut ordered
by the Railroad Labor Board and Of
fear that others will be approved by
the board.
II Detroit the executive council Of
the United Brotherhood of Mante-
nance OF Way Employees ordered 8
strike ballot taken among the 47S,-
900 members of that organization and
the 10000 non-union workers in
crafts affected by the 1872 per cent
wage reduction ordered Sunday.
President E. F. Cradle of the broth
erhood said the ballots would be sent
out Immediately, and if the vote
favored walk-out the men would
drop their tools about July 8.
In Chicago the Federated Shop
Crafts, representing 100000 men, called
on the Labor Board to grant a con-
ference Thursday at which the board
will be asked to take immediate action
in all cases IN which railroads are
said to be disobeying the boards or
ders. If the board declines, strike
ballots will be distributed to the shop
men all over the country Immediately.
it was decided.
Firemen Offer Strike Plan
At Houston, Tex, motion was In
troduced at the convention of the IN
ternational Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen and Enginemen, representing
100000 men, proposing that plans be
made for 4 strike to take effect il the
wages of firemen are reduced by Tie
Labor Board The motion was re-
said here no reduction of wages OF
fremen or any other classes of tram
or yard. service was in prospect Cor
several months.
The resolution adopted in Detroit by
the executive council of the 1nainte-
nance of way men. which is composed
of the officers of the union, specified
the ballots should ask whether o., not
the workers were willing to accept the
cut and declared if they were not "the
union will use the full economic pow
ers of the organization to resist the
reduction of wages ordered by the
Labor Board"
President Cradle said afterward he
expected the returns would be in by
July J., explaining in case Of strike
vote he was empowered to call the men
out. He fixed July as the sentative
date by which arrangements could be-
completed to put the strike in effect
The wage cut is effective july I
under the Labor Board order.
Predicts Other Votes
Mr.. Cradle expressed the belief that
other railroad brotherhoods also would
conduc: strike referendums within the
near future. and declared if the others
voted to strike the maintenance of way
men would join them, in the event the
members of his organization favored
such action.
The brotherhood's financial condi ton
is the best it ever has been, and suffi-
cient funds are available to conduct a
strike, the president said. He declined
to state the amount the brotherhood
has in its treasury
A strike on the part of the brother
hood would, according to the president,
affect all mechanics, maintenance Of
way men, including section hands and
foremen, trackmen, bridge builders.
painters. coal chute men, cinder pit
men and carpenters on all principal
| roads.
Shop Men Expect Three Issues
! With a further wage cut threatened
a,rs
| down by the board on Friday or Sat-
urday, third question will likely .
placed on the ballot, according to B.
! M. Jewell, head of the Shop Crafts.
Two questions, one on alleged viola
tions of board. decisions by letting out
! shop work and the other on climina
tion of time and half for overtime.
have already been authorized for SUBJ
mission 10 the men.
IT another pay cut Is authorized bv
the board the pending ballot undoubt-
! edly will be converted into a triple
| barreled strike threat, Mr.. jewell
| said
! While a strike undoubtedly ia a
i strong possibility unless the shop mems
I present grievances are alleviated, Mr..
Jewell said an actual walk-out hardly
would be possible before September /.
| A reasonable time" would be allowed
! Tor the board to take jurisdiction and
for the railroads to comply with board
orders, he said, but failing that, the
ballot would 60 out.
1t was regarded as certain that the
vote to strike would be overwhelming.
as the shop men already have vote to
| strike in their pockets from last years
wage cut.
Action to bring the railroad labor
situation to crux was taken by the
| executive council of the shop crafts,
which will confer with the board
| Thursday. The council will ask that
the board Immediately take jurisdic-
tion Of disputes on nearly seyen,y-five
railroads. Shop work has been con-
tracted to outside firms on twenty-five
Of these railroads, Mr.. Jewell said. The
railroads have illegally reduced wages,
he declared.
Iltimatum. Says Jewell
These alleged violations have brought
the shop men TO pitch where a anal
1 attempt to settle their difficulties with
shc roads is to be made.
This Ia an ultimatum 10 the roads