Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-29

advance OF its decision us TO the
other classcs. tho board complied
with request made by the Unite
brotherhood of Maintenance Of Way
Employees and Railroad Shop Labor
crs. which asked that It's case be
given precedence and decided as
speedily as possible. The classes not
embraced In the hearings number
from 80 to 35 per cent Of the total
OF railway employees.
In the decision the board called at
tcntion to the fact that the present
adjustment was based on previous
wage adjustments, the first OF which
on July 20. 1920. Increased the wages
of all classes OF employees approx
matcly 100000. 900 IL year. and the
second. the decision of July 1921.
which slashcd about 100000, 900 from
the wages OF some 100000 employees
in all parts OF the country. These
decisions. II was pointed out, were
based upon horizontal increases or de-
creascs of the scales prevailing prior
To Federal control of the roads. all
of which were different for different
divisions OF the same road. Thus. IL
was said, the minimum rates author
!zcd in the present decision will apply
on a very few divisions of few
roads in small groups OF States. prin-
cipaily the South and Southwest.
Scnlc for Common Labor.
An the former dirfcrentials were
continued in the present decision, II
being stated that the wages OF this
class have not been standardized and
made uniform throughout the coun-
try, and Will not be made so under
the decision. The wages Of track
laborcrs at present rates range from
2S 10 40 cents an hour. Under the
decision. they will range from 90 To
80 cents AN hour. The decision as
serted that, under the new scale,
common labor on the roads viii SIN
be receiving rate higher than that
paid similar labor in most other i'm
duStrics. on THE point the decision
said:
The board is OF the opinion that
after the reductions made under this
decision. common labor on the roads
VIII SIN be receiving. as Il rule. q
wage In excess Of that paid to similar
labor In other industries and that the
sam" VIII be true OF all other classes
OF labor covered by this decision The
board Ia OF the opinion. however. that
the hazards and hardships OF the EN-
pioyment. the training and skill re-
CURED. the degree OF responsibility
to the public and other elements men
toned In the statute TRANSPORTATION
act OF 1920 combine TO Justify the
payment OF better wage to these
- employees than q tn St in
Dor in outside employment
Section Men Get 9unrtcrs..
on very considerable number
OF roads the foreman and section
men are furnished by the carrier. Nv-
ing quarters and fuel. Moreover. the
board Is not In sympathy with the
idea that governmental tribunal
empowered To FIX n just and reason
aOIc wage for mon engaged In scrv-
ing the public In the TRANSPORTATION
Industry should be controlled by the
one consideration OF the low wages
that may be paid IL other labor In a
period OF temporary depression and
I, is but just to say
mat railroad Arrangements have in
no desire for such a result"
In statistical table based on the
hHureS on wages and the cost OF liv-
Ing by the Department OF Labor.
which IS Incorporated in the decision
the board declared that while the !
cost OF living in March. 1921 Cast
available government iigurcs). was
l1.2 per cent over that
OF December. 1871 the hourly rate Of
pay Tor maintenance of-way en-
rloyes under the present decision will |
be Ca per cent above Tn. hourly !
rates OF December. 1917. and IN. nur- !
chasing power OF the wages of en- !
pioyes affected by the present de-
ctsioE. viii he as per cent over the
purchasing power of their wngcs in /
1871.
nder IN" terms Of the decision