New Britain herald., 1922-06-06
Minority Report Protests Slashes Were Made Without Consideration of Human Needs"
Shop Mechanics Reduced z Cents an Hour and Freight Carmen g Cents Clerks and Photographers Next.

| Q. sA Press) - Over the strong protest of the three labor representatives on the United States railroad labor board. new wage cut of seven cents an hour for railway shop mechanics and nine cents for freight carmen, cutting 40o,O0 shopmen approximately sixty million a year was ordered by the board today
 Becomes Effective July 1. The new wage reduction brought an estimated added saving of s59,66s,- 347 annually to the railroads, follow ing on the heels of a $50.0O0,000 cut
 in the wages of maintenance of way aborers last week The shop crafts decision becomes effective July 1, the same date as last weeks order.
 The minority report of the labor members pointedly stated that the majority decision was made with no consideration of human needs,' and charges that it fails to carry out the function of the board to set a just and reasonable" wage.
 Labor Men Protest
 'The tendency of this decision is to vindicate the propaganda of the rail roads and consequently condemn such statements as the employes have been able to bring to public attention" the minority opinion said. It was signed by Albert o. Wharton, W. L. Mc- Menimen. and Albert Phillips, the la bor representatives. Supervisory forces of the railway shops were not decreased. After due consideration the decision said, it was felt that the duties and responsibilities of such forces warranted maintenance of the present rates.
 Eight Percent Average
 The reduction for the mechanics averaged little more than eight per cent all mechanics, boilermakers, blacksmiths, sheet metal workers, electrical workers, carmen (except freight carmenD mouders, cupola tenders and core makers and the reg ular help apprentices receiving a cut of seven cents an hour. Freight car men, commonly known as "car knockers and the object of some of the heaviest assaults by the roads in their battle for lower wages, were cut nine cents.
 .'knockers' Slashed More
 The larger cut was ordered for the "car knockers" because the board said 1t believed that their work did not require the same skilled service as other branches of carmen's work, this heavier reduction for the freight carmen came under especially severe criticism in the minority report. the labor members declaring there was no justification for discrimination in car work.
 Other Reductions
 Car cleaners, who now receive an average of s3,1S a day, were cut five cents an hour, or 40 cents a day.
 The mechanics, whose daily rate now averages from s6.11 for electrical workers to s62S for blacksmiths. will | lose 56 cents a day under the new de- cision. bringing ther daly wage to ap- proximately s5.7o.
 The boards latest decision, which | is to be followed shortly by reduc- tions for railway clerks, telegraphers | and all other classes of railway en- | ployes except the train service men, was brief and offered no explanation Of how the new rates were arrivd at. | the dissenters who declared the ma jority decision did not consider "hu- man needs ignored the pleas of the | employees for living wage" and made Tho attempt to show that mechanics are not entitled to such a standard"
 Want Recognized Standard.
 Suggestion for some recognized | sta ndard' to be worked out by the board and used as basis for future wage adjustments was contained in the minority report. which consumed | several times the number of pages in | the majority decision. The labor felt, they said, that the beard should initiate a study which shall determine the amount necessary 10 meet some recognized standard and hat it must use its results as a basis Tor it's decisions and that it must. through those decisions, transmit such information to the public
 The decision the minority report tended to "substantiate the position of the railroads that wages 1eed not be established with refer ince to the needs of the family" con- ending that a minimum wage for the 'hopcraft should be so cents an hour which would mean at rate of s7 ,ents for skilled mechanics
 Saving Is Too Great.
 'The saving to the railroads far 'xceed anything justified by the sat- ngs to the public in reduced rates.'' he dissenters said, adding that pay oll slashes during the last six months of 1921 had been made; in- uding lay offs at the annual rate of 1 1.3oo.ooo 'in strong contrast to the increasing prosperity of the roads" : The Increasing antithesis between ,rofits and just wages will result in . 0 wered morale thus reductions will ot result in economies" the minority pinion said.
 "The duty of the labor board as a obstructive. impartial body is pro- idinE means whereby railroad em- loyes can have their legitimate uman needs satisfied without re-
 (Contanned on Page Eleven)