The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-06-10


orders wage cuts, effective July /,
ranging from nothing for supervfs-
ory employees to 3 cents an hour for
freight car men. The two largest
divisions Of the shop crafts en-
ployes, the naachinists, electricians.
blacksmiths, boilermakers. ETC., and
the helpers and apprentices, are re-
duced cents an hour. ..... -
Affects Nearly s00,0 900. IN
In. normal times the number Of
men affected by the decision would
approximate 100000. Latest avail
able figures, however,, show that in
February last 290.1s2 men were en-
ployed by the railroads in the shop
crafts. classification. .,. - y. p.
The decision of the board, as was
the case with the ruling reducing the
wages Of the Brotherhood Of Main
tenance of Way several days ago, IL
concurred in by the mem bers COM
prising the public and tho railroad
groups. The labor members, A. o.
Wharton, Albert Phillips and w. L.
McMenimen, were unanimous in dis
senting.
"Human Needy Left Out.
The minority report attacks the
present decision on the ground that
it cuts under the scale Of = Giving
wage" for railway employees. The
labor members charge that the de-
cision is based upon cold statistics
and that no consideration is given
the human needs Of the employees
affected ..-<... -.
''The most careful and compre-
hensive investigation of this sub
ject," the minority opinion declares,
shows that wages which do not pro-.
vide for the needs Of q family Of
five mean that ~ per cent of all the
children In the families receiving,
this wage will be inadequ4tely pro-
vided for during at least five critical
years OF their s,l lives. FkTmansnt
traces. Of this malnutrition will b4
LETT on the physique of tnesnex gen
er4tton. f. -. :. = =. ~. &: 8:
. 0aim Dollar Worth More.
The majority opinion points out
that latter the reductions made. un-
der this decision shop employees on
the railroads will still be receiving,
az a rule, a wage in excess. Of that
paid to similar employees in other
industries ut is zcontended in the
majority opinion that the increased
purchasing power Of the wages paid
the shop craft employees effects the
increase in the amount Of the wages
SO that the value Of the wages is
really greater.
| In this connection the board says:
although the average hourly
earnings Of the machinists are below
tho earnings after decision No. 2
(issued on May 1. 1920, increasing
the wages Of employes), was applied,
by Is cents per hour, their value is
So per cent greater, due ezto the de-
crease In the cost of living.
"The average hourly earnings of
car men are below the earnings att
or decision No. 2. was applied, by
1876 cents per hour but: their value
is 80 per cent greater for the same
reason"
.-* May Open More Jobs.
The cost-of-living figures upon
which the board, bsses it's decisions
are taken from tables compiled by
the department Of labor.
Under the present decision, the
wage rates Of the machfnists are
fixed at 1903 cents per hour and the
car men at 64.4 cents per hour. The
scale now in effect is 77.3 cents per
hour for the machinists and 73
cents for the car men.
All except three or four of the
larger railroads are affected by the
decision. Other roads are expected
to come under the decisions by COM
plying with the rules Of hte, board.
Although nothing is, said Of the
matter in the official opinion, the
belief was expressed in unofficial Ia
Dor board circles that the wage re-
. ductions. although providing for an
estimate dropepf 59,s69,347 In the
aggregate .payrolls Of the. railroads,
viii In reality result in increased
i QAySVA; 4UISVuIoOuASulSs LIS ~ G1s
pected to be accomplished through
Reinstatement Of men laid Oft and
the execution of deferred work by
the roads. sS2 s
II Telegraphers Next.
With the announcement Of todays
wage decision, the Order. Of Railway
Telesraphers, remains the largest
single class Of railway employees havs
ing wage disputes still pending.
It was learned auth horitaiysly to-
day that no decision involving the
/ ItAlesraphers is probable by July q
or for, some time thereafter. The
4 chief problem involved ! In The ad-
i justment OF railway telet pliers
! wage scales Is the wiping out OF In
equities existing on different roads.
i Wage scales for teleSrsphsfs vary q,
Il ddifterent roads ana the chief effori
lof the board will be to stindaldt5a
q the wage scale. This. twas Is4EnS0,
i win not Be accom- plished for seyefAl
Il weeks ats least.
There arss about so 900 telsEraph-
lsrs iucludsd n ne ord dsr.s 81.