The Washington herald., 1922-05-29
Cuts 8 to 5 Cents an Hour
To Reduce Expenses
$4S,0O0,00O Annually.
MORE TO FOLLOW
AFFECTING 100000
Decision i'm Effect July
First-LabOr Members
Protest.

CHICAGO. May ss.-The wages ~
approximately 100000 railroad main
tenancee OF way employees and com
mon laborers around railroad shops
are cut from 3 to cents an
hour in decision made public today
by the L. s. Railroad Labor Board
The reduction. the boards figures
show. will reduce railroad payroIls
about S4s. 1000. 600 annually. The cut
averages 1872 per cent Of present
wages for these classes
This is the first Of a series Of de-
cisions Of the board dealing with
the railroad wage question II viii
he followed H. few DAYS by other
decisions which will make reductions
in the wages Of SOC. 600, skilled shap
workers and about 200. 600 CLERKS.
ie'egraphers. station employees and
other small classes. The train scrv-
ices will not be affected
VIII Take Effect July ..
The decision handed down today
takes effect on July the same
date freight rate cuts become ef-
fectiye.
The decision was signed hv TN.
three railroad members and the three
public members and is accompanied
by a dissenting opinion ~ the three
labor members OF the board. in which
the majority decision is criticised A
setting wages below the minimum
standard Of subsistence
The rates of pay established uu-
der this decision are not based u;soq
the human needs Of the hundrr.is
of thousands Of families involved. t7a
dissenting opinion. signed by A -
Wharton. Albert Phillips and " /.
McMenimen. labor members. SAYS.
Insufiicient, Say Labor Members.
They are insufficient 10 proy-i.
these families with the absolute ,--
sentials. The earnings of this laT-.
group Of railroad employs ui'- not
provide the father of a family VITA
as much food as is allowed couyicts
in the Cook County. III. iaii t.
pre-war standard p-rp~tusj,d b, fhfs
decision was the product Of incqu.fs-
ble wage bargains. II was cou~.i-
erably below the level recognized =
that time as necessary for the ma.u-
tenance of health and energy
The majority opinion declares. how
ever. that tho decision viii l,svc
common labor on railroads s'ul r.--
ceiving a wage in excess of thst
paid to similar labor IN other indus
tries and that the same will ha is-.-
Of all other classes Of labor covered
by this decision
The board is Of the opinion how
ever. that the hazards and hard
ships of tho employment the traIn-
ing and skill required. the dezr..c
OF responsibility 10 the public aaI
other elements mentioned in tho strt-
ute. combine to Justify the pavrncnt
Of a better wage to these emnloyrs
than is paid to similar labor in out
side employment
Back 60 the War RasIs
Moreovsr the board is not in
sympathy with the idea that gov
ernmental tribunal. empowered 10 n.
a just and rea aSonahle wage foT ;ll..p
engaged in serving the public in the
transportation industry should leo
controlled by the one consideration
Of the low wages that may be pstd
to other labor in a period Of tenn
porary depression and unemploy-
ment." il is stated.
The decision puts common labor
on railroads on a pre-war basis. a
takes away the remaining WARTIME.
increases for all Of the unskillca
classes. Following decisions will take
. .
ceptions Of the big five" transpor-
tation groups-conductors. engineers.
trainmen. firemcn and switchm"n.
All bridge-huilding. painter. con-
struction. mason and concrete. and
wharf and coal lahorers are cut ;
cents an hour.
Section. track and maintenance ~
way foremen and their assistants
are cut cents an hour
Mechanics in the maintenance Of
way and bridge and building DEPART
ments are reduced cents an hour
Track lahorers and all laborers
around railroad shops-the big class
affected by the decision. s7S.s39 men
are cut cents an hour.
Common labor on railroads will now
receive a minimum OF % cents and
/ a maximum Of IS cents an hour.
Railroad executives view the de-
cision as a big step back 10 normal
conditions.
The minimum rates. the deciSian
expressly stipulated. are not to be
given uniform application through
out the country. but only where
: local conditions seem TO warrant
them.
Although pending settlement ~
their working rules. the biz four
! brot herhooSs and the Switchmcn's
! Union Of North America are not
yet parties to any dispute before
the Labor Board: il is generally
conceded that they must soon face
a wage fight. Any ensuing red ic-
I tion would tip the scales in favor
Of the carriers. so far as the rates
of pay in effect prior TO the $780,
o0o. 900 increase of May. 1920. is con-
| csrned.