Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-05-29


The money saved BY the wage reduc-
tions will be expended In much needed
maintenance work, according 10 reports
Of the roads 10 the board offering the
employment of 900 additional men.
CHICAGO. May :,-Rradjustment Of
wages If approximately 100000 mainteI,-
nnce of wax employees ~ the railways "a
the country. effective July I. in accord
ancc with decreases with the cost of
living and wages in similar outside en-
ployment since the dcrision of the board
last July was provided for in 4 decision
hy the United States railroad labor
hoard. made public Sunday night.
The decision II expected a. reduce
present payrolls Of the railroads abcui
Sii.0Ob.WD per year and To reduce the
pay Of th" majority If the maintenance
~ waymcn > cents per hour. but imports =
mt classes ~ The employees were given
Il smaller cut Under the majority head
were iIsluded track laborers and other
classes usually designated as common
lahorcrs"
The decision was signed hy the three
railroad members NJ the board aEd Tho
three members representing IN, public
group. The dissenting opinion rai
tended that the wage scale provide! N
The decision was insufficient - s'.s.ain
life on the basis Of American standards.
The boards decision followed the hear
Ii-gS held Oh the request ~ the .ail-
roads for wage reductions ami the cniIa
rer-reguest If several classes II .'mi.las.
cs for increases in pay. These hearings
Logan in Chicago March q ami enle,;
April 20
AT except three or four of the larger
railway systems ~ the country were M
fcctcd hy the hearing which included ~
classes e employees except those in
train yard and cngi,.c service who were
tnen conducting negotiations with the
railroads which had not terminated "a
the time hearings began
In announcing the separate decSioa
for maintenance Of way employees in adj
vance of its decision as Ia the other
classes. the board complied with n re-
quest made Us the United brotherhood
81 Maintenance of Way Employees AMI
Railroad shop I-aborcrS. which askcn
that its case be given preced~Ee and
decided rs speedily rs possible.
The classes not embraced ~ the de-
clsion number 20 10 ~ pcr cent ~ the
total of railroad employees.
IN the deCiSion the board called at
trnticn to the fact that the present al
iuStmcnt was based or previous wage
ndiustments,t he first of which July 2n.
1870. increased the wages of all classes
of employees approximately $500 0nMHD0
vcar. AMI the second. the decision ~
July I. 1927. which slashcd about Si0n.-
n0c 600 from the wages of some employ
csh in all parts of the country.
These dcciSonns. il was pointed out.
were based nnon horizontal increases ~
arcrcascs " the scales prevailing prior
~ federal control ~ the roads. MT ~
which were different for different di-
visions of the same road. Thus. II was
said. the minimum rates authorized IN
the present decision will apply on very
few divisions nf n few roads in small
-rouns or states principally the South
and Southwest
All of the former diffcrentials were
continued in the present decision il be-
Ing stated that the wages Of this elias,
of employees have not hccn standard
iZcd and Storm throughout the cnHn
try and will not be made 80 under the
decision
The wages of track laborcrs M pres
cnt rates range from ~ to 10 cents per
hour. Under the decision they wifi
range from ~ 10 - cents an hour.
The decision asserted that under the
nov scale. com.rot labor on the roads
viii still he receiving a rate higher than
that paid similar labor in most other in
dustrics.
Under tho terms ~ the decision. th-
classes designated ~ common labor"
ard estimated ~ number some 1~T .I9u
were cut cents m hour.
Labor Of n similar class employed
around shops. round hcnses. yards AMI
terminals. numbering 9l.2l9 also was
cut Scents m hour
Drawhrilgc tenders anil assistants.
pile drivers. ditching and holsting engin-
rrrs, fircmrn etc. We're cut > cents ah
hour. They number 29.1f
section. track and maiStenance fore
men and assistant forcmen were cut 2
cents nm horr.
Among other slashos mechanics IN the
maintenance of way department. except
those under the shop crafts agreement.
were cut icc-tS an hour. Mechanics help
crs I'm these same departments. rXccnt
ihoscwaowanw nwawcw anwaw anaay;
those under the shop craft agreement.
were cut | cent an hour n was en-
phasized. however. that all these wer
MINIMUM rates and will not apply IN
uniform manner throughout the com
iry. hut will ~ affected by local condi-