Arizona republican., 1922-06-17
S27,000,000
MORE IS GUT
FROM SALARY
OF RAIL MEN
Clerks, Signal Men And
Stationary Firemen AZ
fected By Order Issued
By Labor Board

ly 21,000,000 from the annual pay
roll of $4,000 railway employees by
cutting clerks, signal men and sta
tionary firemen from two to six cents
an hour. the United States Railroad
labor board today announced another
wage slash, bringing total reductions
under the boards orders. up to $780,
o00,00 beginning July ].
The clerks We're cut 8 to 4 cents
an hour, according to their classifl-
cation. the signal men cents and
the firenen cents.
Approximately 100000 railroad
employees will share the total reduc-
ton, which has brought vigorous
protests from every union organiza-
tion involved and will result in a
strike vote of 10 railway labor bodies.
The voting is already under way in
seven unions and the other three af
fected by today's order are expected
to mail their ballots Immediately. A
dissenting opinion, protesting against
any reduction, was included in. the
decision as was the case in the two
previous cuts for the maintenance OF
way laborers and the shopmen. The
minority decision today was signed
by Arthur o. Wharton and Albert
Phillips. both labor members. The
third member of the labor group is
in the east on an investigation trip
for the board.
Defines Living Wage
Definite recognition of living
wage" and saving wage was made
for the first time by the board in
today's decision. Although abnormal
postwar conditions were pointed out
as obstructions to fixing any scien-
tific living or saving wage at pres
ent the board declared that as soon
as this condition was removed it
would give increased consideration
tc all the intricate details incident
to the scientific adjustment OF such
a wage.
The bulk of those hit by the new
cut will be 10000 clerks and 100000
station employees. The majority of
clerks, those with two years experI-
ence or more, are cut three cents an
hour. Other clerks are cut four cents
and beginners instead of form mini
mum months pay of $61 will get $50.
After the first six months, they will
receive $50 instead OF the former rate
of $3.50. Storekeepers train and
engine callers, train announcers and
baggage room employees will be cut
three cents.
Under the four-cent reduction
come janitors, watchmen. office boys,
messengers and freight handlers. as
well as common laborers around sta
tionss and warehouses
Telephone Girls Benefit
Telephone girls. who the board de-
clared have suffered from improper
tionate increases and decreases be-
fore, received the most welcome news
of the order when minimum wage
of $S5 a. month was fixed by the
board with the further proviso that
any hello girls" who receive more
than that amount at present shall
not suffer any reduction.
The $4,000 signalmen received the
largest cut Of the group being re-
duced five cents an hour with help
ers suffering cents slash. Signal
foremen, assistant foremen and in
spectors, however, escaped with no
reduction whatsoever.
The 5000 train dispatchers likewise
escaped cut, the board declaring
the nature of their work and their
responsibility warranting continu-
ance Of the present rates.
Stationary engineers. firemen and
oilers. numbering 10000. escaped with
the smallest slice from their pay en-
velopes, being cut two cents an hour.
Executives of the firemen and oil
ers' union, the signalmen and the
clerks brotherhood decided at con-
ference with eight other labor unions
in Cincinnati last week to issue a
strike ballot if their wages were re-
duced. The six shop crafts and the
maintenance of way union, also in the
conference, already have their vote
under way.
Dining car employees and the euli-
nary workers on the ferries in San
Francisco bay will continue to get
their present pay, since but few car
riers asked reduction in these
classes. But four carriers asked for a |
reduction of their marine workers |
too, and the wages of that group. |
500, Were remanded for |
settlement with the carriers. The
board explained that the clerks cut
was lighter than some other classes |
because they had suffered consider
able loss from certain changes in
their rules and because thew never |
have been highly paid compared with |
other classes.
The New Wage Scale
Figures included in the decision |
showed that clerks will receive under
the new scale an average of SIS
cents an hour, compared with s4.5 |
cents in December, 1917, when the |
government took over the railroads. |
These figures show a 44.7 per cent in
crease in actual purchasing power. |
the decision declared, while the in
creased hourly rate for signalnen |
from 32.S cents to 643 cents showed |
increased purchasing power of 67.2 |
per cent.
The firemen and oilers. according |
to the boards figures, receive the |
greatest benefit under the decision |
through their increase from 21.S |
cents an hour in 1917 to 49.6 cents |
July /, or 94.1 per cent increase in |
actual purchasing power.
Reviewing the railroad labor situa- |
tion since the creation of the labor |
board, the decision pointed out that I
.'it is generally conceded to be fairly |
plain and certain that our country |
has entered upon an era of gradually |
business prosperity which |
(COntiuued on Paca TuaN