The New York herald., 1922-01-23
NEW RULES AFFECT
100000 Rail MEN
Overtime to Be Paid Only
After the Ninth Hour
of Work.
PERMIT SPLIT TRICK
Reopening of Many Stations
and Improved Service
Expected.
ROADS TO SAVE MILLIONS
U. s. Labor Board Announces
Important Changes to Go
Into Effect Feb. 1.

overtime payments until after the
ninth hour Of work, and authorization
Of "split tricks instead Of compelling
overtime payments or two shifts for
intermittent work over a span Of more
than eight hours, are important
changes in rules governing railroad
clerical and terminal employees. issued
by the United States Railroad Labor
Board tonight.
Tie new rules, which become ef-
fective February 1, supersede the ma
tional agreement made by the Fed
eral Administration with the Brother
hood of Railway and Steamship
Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and
Station Employees, which has been
been in effect since January /. 1920.
About 100000 employees are affected
| Application Of the new split trick
rules and elimination Of time and one
half pay for the ninth hour are ex-
pected to save the railroads millions Of
dollars, Labor Board statisticians esti-
mating that the amount would reach
$t5,oOo,oo0 annually. During the rule
hearings many roads testified that bag
| gagemen, train announcers and other
employees doing intermittent work, many
of them young boys or aged men for
nerly paid SIS a month, were receiving
SITS to $500. due to operation OF the
overtime rule. This overtime will now
| be eliminated.
Eight Hour Principle Retained.
The eight hour day was retained In
| principle, however. as were collective
bargaining and union recognition. The
! Working agreements not covered by
rules negotiated between individual roads
and their employees.
Time and one-half pay now applies
only to the tenth hour of work or there
after and to hours worked IL held on
duty more than two hours when called for
extra work. Sunday and holiday work
will be paid at straight time, except
where the railroad agrees to do other
wise.
Reopenins Of many small railway sta
tlons, Improvement of service to small
towns and on suburban lines arc expect
ed to follow the adoption of the new
rule as to intermittent work. 1t will
now be possible for the railroads to place
responsible employees at the smaller sta
tons at all train hours without the ex-
pense which they claim now is prohibi-
tive and which has resulted in the clos
ing of many stations and the handing
or others over to caretakers and janitors
at some hours Of the day.
The new rule provides that where
actual service Is intermittent eisb,
hours actual time on duty within a
spread of twelve hours shall constitute a
days work. When employees actually
work more than eight hours within the
span or when held longer than twelve
nours to perform their work they are
to be paid time and one-half for the
extra time.
i Changes the Old Rule.
Under the old national agreement an
employee received overtime pay after
expiration OF eight hours from the time
ne Iirst went on duty, although he NAV
| nave had several hours Of idIeness d,,s
10 the fact that there was no train ser
vice or any other duties to perform.
Charses that employees actuaII,
iarined or performed other work 10,
themselves In such intervals have beer
one OF the outstanding features Of tbs
criticism leveled at railroad condit,on.
under Federal control Where ALI M
work at station due to the arrival and
departure or trains only In the n1ornins
ard evening comes within a spread al
twelve hours, such an employee unde,
the new rule would work in the morn.
ing. be released in the middle of the da,
without pay and report In the afternoon
for the remainder Of tho days work
Under the old rule he was paid over.
time Tor the evening work or two shlfte
employed, which latter was generaIl,
done.
The new rule also will allow the rail-
roads at larger terminals where the ar.
rival and departure of trains Is punched
TO employ baggagemen. train announcers
gatemen. train and engine crew callers
and employees In similar positions or
split tricks. instead Of having to main.
tain two shifts.
The new code leaves the matter OF
sick leave and vacations for employee.
up to the men and the arrangements en-
tircly. Under the national agreemen
there was no rule securing these advan
tages for the employees, previous prac
tice being continued.
Complaint Time Extended.
The board extended the time aIIowe,
for investigation of complaints OF EN-
ployees claiming to have been uniistI,
dismissed from service. from seven day
TO ten days. Under the new rules mea
periods worked shall be paid for at tn,
pro rata rate. These periods formerI,
were paid for at time and one-half.
The new rules allow straight time fo
the daily work period to employees
travelling on company boarding cars (,
assignments away from their regula
places. but eliminate the provision 10
payment OF half time between the hour
of 10 r. VI. and s A. NJ. which was tn,
rule under the national agreement.
Students and apprentices qualifyin,
for specific clerical work or as operator
OF office machines. such as typewriter
and adding machines. are excepted iron
the terms Of the agreement.
A large number OF rules on discipline
grievances and seniority. over whicl
there were disputes on some lines. wer
remanded to the men and the manage
ments for further negotiation.
The rule covering the scope of ~
agreement to include personal oiic,
forces. over which several cases nav
already come before the board. was ais
remanded for further consideration.