The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-06
WORKERS IN
SHOPS TAKE
LATEST CUT
Reduction Effective July l
Affects 100000 Rail
Employees.

Cincinnati, Ohio, June g.
(By the Associated PresS.)-A
strike vote of approximately L.
100000 railway workers of the
United States will be taken by
the individual unions affected
by railroad labor board wage
reductions, recently ordered
and pending, it was decided ut
a conference OF union leaders
here today.
The vote in each organization
will be returnable within 80
DAYS after the board announces
wage cut for that class of
employees. the vote of the shops
craft, whose reduction was or
edered by the board today, be-
ing returnable on June 30.
Chicago June 6.-(By the AssO-
ciated Press )-Over the strong
protest of the three labor repre-
sentatives on the United States rail
road labor board a new wage cut
of I cents an hour for railway shop
mechanics and cents for freight
car men, cutting 100000 shop men
approximately $50 600 900 a year
was ordered by the board today.
The new wage reduction brought
an estimated added saving Of S59,-
$50 ,347 annually to the railroads,
following on the heels of a $50
900 900 cut in the wages OF mainte-
nance of way iaborers last week
The shop crafts decision becomes
| effective July L
Labor Members Oppose.
The minority report of the labor
members stated that the majority
decision was made with no con
sideration of human needs, and
charges that it fails to carry out
| the function of the board tC set
Just and reasonable" wage
The tendency of this decision is
to vindicate the propaganda of the
railroads and consequently con
denim such statements as the en-
! ployes have been able to bring to
public attention" the minority
opinion said. 1t was signed by
/ Albert o. Wharton, ". L. McMeu-
J
labor representatives
! Supervisory forces of the .2ll-
way shops were not decree Red.
After due consideration the deCis-
ion said, it was felt that the duties
and responsibilities Of such forces
warranted maintenance of the oCcs-
ent rates.
Other Cuts Coming.
The boards latest decision.
which is to be followed shorty by
reductions for railway clerks,
teIegrapheTs and all other classes
of railway employees, except IN.
train service men. was brief and
offered no explanation of hUE the
new rates were arrived at. This
omission brought more fire from
the dissenters, WHO declared the
majority decision did not consider
human needs" ignored the pleas
Of the employees for d living wage
and made no attempt 10 show thai
mechanics are not entitled TO sucl
a standard"
TeIegraphers' Cut Delayed
Il was learned today that the
United States railroad labor board
decision affecting telegraphers, the
next class Of employees TO be dealt
with in d wage ruling, Will not be
available for some time and un-
doubtedly will not be issued IN time
to become effective on july /, the
date the maintenance of way and
shop chaft decisions take effect.
The reason for this, II was e%-
planned, is that the chief question.
I! in the telegraphers' case Is no
how much money shall be paid, bu
how inequalities of pay on different
roads shall be settled. This matter
is expected TO take several morj
weeks of discussion by board mem
= bers
: The effect of this delay on a pos
sibIe strike woaId be considerable
for the telegrap piers are consldere.
among the most important units Il
the traffic moving machinery AM
are among the most difficult L
replace quickly