The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-05

l WAeA W AANAtGA w LIlC AlIlR W
form q Labor government.
Events are moving fast in Bril-
tain now.
The dispute had its origin in
1922, when the railway en-
ployers stated that they de-
sired certain alterations made
in the wage agreement exist
ing between the companies and
the unions, This agreement was
made after the great strike Of Sep
TENDER, 1919, 1t provided certain
basic rates Of pay for the various
grades, and also allowed for slid
ing scale, computed according to the
cost Of living, for additional wages
above the basic rates. According
to this sliding scale, the wages on
the railroads are now almost at the
basic rate figures.
Three Railroad Unions.
There are three unions operating
IN the railway industry: the National
Union of Railwaymen, which also
includes scsne fremen and engineers,
and is an industrial union; the Rail-
way Clerks Association, which. as
the name implies, is confined to the
clerical workers on the railroads;
and the Associated Society Of Loco,
motive Engineers and Firemen.
In 1922, the employers demands
for reduction of wages were OPP
posed by the three unions, and the
companies did not press their de-
mands. They bided their time.
About six months ago, they resumed
their offensive on the standard Of
living of the railway workers.
The matter came up before the
Central Wages Board, upon which
the unions and the employers are
equally represented. II resulted in
disagreement. The matter was
then referred to the National Wages
Board. This board, which was Gre
ated by the Railway Act of 1921, is
composed Of six representatives of
the employers. Six representatives
of the unions 1.-TWO representatives
from each Of the three unions) +,
four representatives of the users of
the railroads four old friends. the
publicly, and an independent
chairman, who is at present Sir
William Mackenzie. The chairman
is, however, a member of the en-
ploying class. Thus, the union rep
fesantatives are in a minority of
six to eleven. 1t is the old, old
story.
| Board Purely Consultative.
TIE National Wages Board has
no power to enforce its decisions
It is purely consultative body
formed in the hope that the differ
ences between the employers and
workers. on the railways, may be
settled there, thru negotiations, and
thus strikes may be avoided. It's
decisions are, however, by no means
binding. II may be compared to the
| adjustment machinery set up in the
United States before the mining
\ strike, except that it has a more
4 official status.
The board issued a decision which
was adverse to certain grades Of
the railroad workers. The National
Union Of Railway men accepted the
decisions, thru its delegate confer
ence, body which has been criti-
cised by some of the N. u. r. mem
bership as being unrepFegentatiye
and reactionary. This conference ac-
cepted the boards findings by 80
votes TO 20. The Railway Clerks
executive also accepted the award
after a canvass of feeling" among
its members. The Associated Soci-
ETY. of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen took a ballot of its mem
beFs, which resulted in a majority
of 2s,o19 for the rejection of the
award. This was an overwhelming
majority. It should be noted that
the A. s, l., e. F. was the only
one Of the three unions which took
real ballot Of its membershjpaop
the matter. 'o
The A. S. L. E. F. claims that
the award would mean a loss to
firemen on mileage trains of from
nine to eighteen shillings a week,
and that the wages Of engineers
! would be reduced by eleven to TWEEN
ty-twc shillings weekly.
Face Loss In Wages.
Other drivers, not on mileage
rates. would lose about six shill-
ings week. The award would also
cause reductions in Sunday and over
time rates.
When the ballot against the award
was returned, the A. S. l.. f. f.
tried, in every possible way, TO
avoid strike. The employers were
asked, again and again, to reopen
negotiations. This they refused to
do, and the railroad companies stated
definitely that the new rates would
be enforced on Sunday, Jan. 20.
After repeated efforts to come to
a settlement, on the part Of the
union, a strike was ordered.
In the meantime the conduct of