New Britain herald., 1922-07-13

Chicago, July 13.-B. M. Jewell, head of. the railway employees depart ment of the A. F. of L., today sent a telegram to President Harding re- plying to the presidents proclama- ton on the strike situation and | opening a new phase of the griev. ances of striking railway shopmen
 Violations Claimed.
 The telegram which also was signed by the six international presidents of the railway shopcrafts declared that the strikers had walked out because wages fixed by the labor board were in violation of the provisions of the transportation act and because of the 1 by the railroads.
 Puts Blame on Roads. The strikers insisted that no in- terruption of commerce or interfer- ence with the mail had been caused by an unlawful act by the shopmen. The telegram lays such interference directly to the attempt of the rail, roads to operate with incompetent workmen. President Jewell and his associates reiterated their desire to cooperate in any effort to bring peace but declared that up to the present the rail executives had re- fused to meet the representatives of the employees
 Text of Communication.
 The text follows:
 Tt appears from your proclamation of July II, that incomplete informa- tion has been furnished you concern- ing the present dispute between the railroad operators and employees.
 "Ninety-two railroads have violated transportation acts or decisions of the railroad labor board in 1o4 cases. These involved not only contracting out work in shops, but also wage de- creases, interpretations of rules and right of employees to elect their own re presentatives. When the Penna. railroad refused to comply with the boards rulings, Federal Judge Page held that the boards position on wages or rules was only advisory. The railroads have refused ever since pas sal ge cf the transportation act to es- ta blish national boards of adjustment described by the labor board as the
 
 central part of the machinery to de- eide disputes between the carriers and their employees.
 Arbitration Impossible.
 "The railroads have made all ne- gotiations merely formal, thus throw ing on the board an impossible burden of arbitration The board has abol- ished overtime pay for Sundays and holidays enjoyed for 30 years even on roads. The board has es- ia blished a rate of pay of $500 year. though the department of labor fixed the bare cost of living at over S1,4oo and a minimum comfort budget at over s2,30o
 All Wages Unjust.
 When the basic wage is unjust 1t follows that all wages graded upwards for skill and responsibility are like wise unjust Organized employees sup port your declaration of May 23. 1921, that the lowest wage must for comfort and insure that the struggle for ex- istence shall not crowd out things purely worth living for and should provide for amusement, recreation and savings. Employes have never violated any decision of the board; but the railroads have violated decisions md employees have refused tc work under wages fixed by the labor board which violated provisions of the trans oortation act.
 Says Health Is Threatened.
 The board has attempted to un- oad financial burdens of railroad mana cement upon empolyes through inadequate wages and this will under nine the health and prosperity of the next generation. After exhausting all other methods the employees sought again to obtain conference and agreement with the railroad execu- ives. Only as a last resort did they 'trike. We respectfully insist that 10 interruption of commerce or interfer.
 lContinued on Page Twelys)