The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-29
48 MILLION
DOLLAR CUT
IN RAIL PAY
Rail Board Order, Effec-
tive July l, Hits
400, 900 Men.
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
Detroit, Mich, May 29.-(By
the Associated Press.)-Belief
that "a strike vote would be or
dered by the executive council
of the United Brotherhood of
Maintenance of Way Employees
and Railway Shop Laborers,
was expressed today by f. +.
Grab:e. grand president of the
organization, as the council
went into session to consider
the wage reduction ordered yes
terday by the United States
railroad labor board.
Washington, May 9.-Attacking
the decision of the railroad labor
board with respect to wages of
maintenance of way employees.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, de-
clared today it was "a most unjust
and inequitable proceeding
Mr.. Gompers in a formal state
ment said the decision penalties
the workers and helps the rail-
roads" and "it is another illustra-
ton of the unfitness of the railroad
labor board.
Chicago, May 9.-Maintenance Of
way employees of the nations rail-
ways face a $4S,000,000 reduction
July /. as result of last nights
order by the railroad labor board.
The order affects 100000 men.
This order, the 100000, 900 slash
of last July and pending orders af-
fecting other classes, if they carry
the same ratio of reductions, will
place railroad labor back where it
was before the 100000, 900 increase
Of May, 1920.
Impending decisions. governing
the wages of 100000 railway shop
men, 100000 clerks, telegraphers,
station employees and other classes,
were expected to follow closely on
last nights order, which cut the
pay of maintenance of way work
ers from 1 to cents an hour.
"Big 4" Not Involved.
With the negotiations over work
ing rules still pending the Big
Four" brotherhoods and the switch
men are not yet involved in any
way dispute before the board.
These classes received a II per cent
reduction last July, however.
Immediate reconsideration Of last
nights order by the executive coun-
Gil of the United Brotherhood OF
Ea,-
in prospect today with the predic-
ton by B. NJ. Jewell, head of the
railroad department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, that the
decision will be rejected and sub
mitted to a vote of the men.
Brotherhood officials character
lied the cut as "indefensible, as
serting that the case they present.
ed to the board did not warrant the
slash.
Labor Members Dissent.
The three labor members of the
board returned a dissenting vote
to the order. The wage cut de-
cision was signed by the three
members representing the public
and the three railroad members.
Money saved by the wage reduc,
ton will be expended in much
needed maintenance work, accord
ing to reports of the roads to the
board Starting of this neglected
work will offer employment to
100000 additional men, it was said.
Wages of maintenance of way
employees. now ranging from % to
10 cents an hour, will, after, July
!, range from % to 35 cents. Com
mon labor suffered the biggest cut.
This class numbers about 1877. 900
employees who face a reduction of
cents an hour along with $1,000
men who work around shops,
round houses. and yards.
Section Men Cut Cents.
Section, track and maintenance
!oremen will take a three cent re-
auction, while mechanics not under
me shop craft agreement were cut
iour cents and mechanics helpers
one cent.