The Washington herald., 1922-06-07
STRIKE OF CAR
And SHOP men
LOOMS JULY
Ballot Placed in Mails for
Complete Vote by
June 80.
LARGE MAJORITY
FOR WALK0UTSEEN
Announcement of S60,-
100000 Cut Brings Ac-
tion From Leaders.

CHICAGO. June s.-with the sn-
nouneement by the United States
Railway Labor Board OF a wage
cut spproximating sse.eoo.ooo for
100000 shopmen and car men
strike ballots held in readiness By
union leaders were put into the
mails tonight.
The strike ballots. TO be returned
June so. ask the men 20 vote on
three questions. as follows.
Whether the wage cuts shall
be accepted.
z-Whether working rule revt-
sions shall be accepted
3-Whether Il is the opinion of
the men that the railroads have
any Intention of obeying the con-
tract labor decisions Of the labor
board
Negative answers to these ques-
tions, which are expected by an
overwhelming majority. az is al
ways the case. will authorize B.
NJ. Jewell. president OF the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor. railway
department and his executive coun-
ell composed of the presidents Of
the six big shop crafts unions and
heads of other American Fedora
tion of Labor railroad unions AZ
fected. TO call a strike probably
July Is. the first pay day after
the wage cuts go into effect
Executives Expect strike.
Railroad executives here fully
expected the A +. OF L. railroad
department will strike. II ts
Il hNT
for the past six weeks raflroads
throughout the country have been
preparing for this eventuality.
Thousands OF freight and passen-
ger cars have been rushed fnto-
shops for repairs not necessItated
by present traffic conditions
Miles Of freight cars stand on the
tracks. fully repaired. while lead
In the journal boxes and all set
for cessation OF work in railroad
shops.
Executives frankly admit that
they are anxious for the expected
showdown with the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor unions and. they
also admit. they are in a much
better condition to meet any crisis
now than last October. when the
orotherhoods threatened to strike.
The shop crafts leaders, on the
other. hand. privately say that they
are facing a sink or swim" situa-
tion. They must either accent the
wage cuts, working rule revisions
and certain privileges TO railroads
TO farm out their shops to private
hands or strike and face the big
Eest open shop movement ever seen
in railroad union history. The car
/ a.
strength OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor unions nurtured by
wartime agreements.
Conditions Against UnIon.
II the American Federation OF
Labor leaders go into a strike they
Will do so with every surface con-
| dition against them.
They will be without the assist
ance OF the powerfG, train service
brotherhoods who facea neither
wage cuts OF immediate overtime
reductions. Nor are they likely 10
have the aid OF the railroad
telegraphers or signslmen. both
highly skilled labor organizations
and essential to any attempt TO tie
up the roads. These unions have
not had wage cuts announced as
yet There are $1,000 teleEraphers
and their wage decision will not
be handed down until August. .ac-
cording TO the labor board Officers.
So, II a strike is authorized June
80. IL will include about $50 600
>1en. the majority OF them readily
replaceable- There are about
100000 members OF the Maintenance
OF Way Union. the bulk OF them un-
skilled right-of-way workers.
There are about 100000 shopmen,
including electricians, boiIerma kers.
sheet metal workers. etc: an
skilled workers. but more easily re-
/ placeable than would oe the case in
a strike OF telegraphers, signaimen.
conductors. engineers. etc. car
hogs" hit heaviest in Tuesdays de-
cision with a Scent reduction are
also easily replaceable.
sherman Act Looms.
The union leaders must also face
the possibility OF being held in vio-
lation Of the Sherman acr for le-
straint Of interstate commerce. un-
der the decision this week by the
Supreme Court.
In the face Of these handioaps,
the American Federation Of Labor
leaders declare they are determined
to go Gown the line with them"
They have used every method of
averting the wage and working
rules cuts. The fight is over and.
they admit. Il is strike or accept
the boards rulings.
Tuesdays decision puts shop
wages back where they were In
1917. Mechanics. whose daily rate
now averages SSH for electrical
workers and ss.2s for blacksmiths
lose 5s cents a day bringing them
back 10 the 1917 rate OF $50 aaily.
wL.le there are additional wage
cuts to come for other unions the
two decisions trimming $4,000. 900
from railroad psyrolls annually
constitute the biggest part OF the
rail labor denation.
Eject Cannot he Seen.
President X. z. Byram. of the
Chicago. Milwaukee and ST. Paul.
told the United News that a balance
between the freight rate cuts and
the wage reductions 10 determine
how tbs carriers are going to come
out under the new conditions could
not be struck until January i.hext.
Nobody can tell where the rail-
roads will wind up in this readiast-
lent because the whole thing 1.
new and must be worked out he
said