New-York tribune., 1922-06-07
Decision OF Labor Board
Reduces Pay of Shop
Workers 8 Per Cent,
To BE Effective July i
White Collar Men
Escape Reduction
Union Members Dissent
From Ruling: Action on
Telegraphers Is Delayed

Spec.ai Dispatch TO The Tyibans
CHICAGO. June s Wages Of 100000
railroad employees. including shopmen,
freight.car men. helpers and car clean
ers. we're cut approximately s6o0OO'ooo
to-day by the majority members Of the
United States Railroad Labor Board
despite the unanimous protest Of labor
representatives on the board.
The decision to-day brings the total
wage savings for the railroads 20 ap-
proximately Sll0O00.000. inasmuch as
/, supplements the recent ruling Of the
board which cut the maintenance-of-
way workers about S50,OOO,OOO'
The ruling to-day is seen as vic
tory for the white collar employee
the supervisory forces. including fore
men. section bosses and others who
are paid by the month or by the hour
because their wages are not affected
II was learned that the boards de-
cision affecting 10000 telegraphers. the
next class OF employees 10 be dealt
with IN a wage ruling. will not. be avail
able for some time and undoubtedly
will not be issued IN time 10 become
effective July /. the date the mainte-
nance Of way and shop craft decisions
take effect.
Telegraphers' Case Involved
The reason for this. it was explained,
is that fhe chief questions IN the teleg'
raphers' case is not how much money
shall be paid but how inequalities OF
nav on different roads shall be settled
This matter is expected TO take several
more weeks Of discussion by the board
Tho effect Of this delay on possible
strike would be considerable. u wa'
said. Tor telegraphers arc considered
among the most important units IN ths
traffe moving machinery and are
among the most difficult 20 replace
quickly. =.
The reduction announced to-day fol
the mechanics averaged little more
than : per cent. all machinists. boiler
makers. blacksmiths. sheet metal work
crs. electrical workers. carmen. eNcep'
freight carmen, moldors. cupola tenders
and coremakers and the regular ana
helpcr apprentices receiving a cut ol
: cents an hour. Freight carmen, com.
monty known o. "car knockers and
tho object Of some Of the heaviest as
saults by the roads IN their battle ioi
lower wages. were cut cents.
The larger cut was order for me
"car knockers" because the board said
il believed that their work did not re-
ouire tho same skilled service a. other
branches Of Garments work. This heav'
Ter reduction for the freight carmen
came under especially severe criticism
In the minority report. the labor mem
hers declaring there was M Jus'ihca-
ton Tor discrimination m car work.
Cleaners Lose 20 Cents
Car cleaners. who now receive an
average Of S31s day. we're out I'VE
cents an hour. or forty cents DAY
The mechanics, whose daily rate nov
averages from SOIL for electrical
workers 10 s62S for blacksmiths. will
lose 56 cents day under the new
decision. bringing their daily wage "a
approximately $3.50.
The boards latest decision, which Is
70 be- followed By reductions for rail
way clerks, teiegraphers and all other
classes Of railway employees except
the train service men. was brief and
offered no explanation OF how the new
rates we're 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 Tor a
"living wage" and made no attempt to
show that mechanics are not entitled
90 such standard
The decision, however. contained nu-
merous tables prepared by the board
statistical department, cesigned 70
show that although wages we're re.
duced they mad not been reduced more
than the reduction in the cost Of liy-
ing. and that the purchasing power
Of the present pay -~as higher tnan
the purchasing power OF the hignef
wages during the years since 1871
II also said that the board believed
that. even with the ordered decrease
shop employees would be receiving a
wage greater than the average wage
paid for similar work in other indus
tries.
Citing maehinists and carmen, the
decision said that the purchasing power
OF the former under the new wages
would be 1873 per cent greater than
in 1917. and the latter would be able
10 buy 457 per cent more with the new
nav than with the 1917 rate. The de-
cision declared it believed the wages
hxed 10 be just and reasonable.
Suggestion for some recognized
standard" 10 be worked out by the
hoard and used as a basis for future
wage adjustments was contained IN the
minority report, which consumed sew
fcestinusd or aeu pags)