The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-13
RAIL WORKERS
DEMAND Their
WAGE INCREASE
Bosses Press urges an
Immediate Showdown
BvLELAND oLDs.

(Federated Press Industrial Editor)
Engine service brotherhoods
are demanding a straight in
crease in wages without modifi-
cation of the standard rules on.
all western railroads with the
exception of the Chicago & AL
ton, the Southern Pacific and
the Western Pacific on which
settlements have been made.
This means that the rail labor
boards "short order" decisions
will be disregarded in the nego-
tiations. On many roads the
rule changes proposed by the
board would largely offset the
small wage increase granted.
Lots Of Southern Pacific Money
The Southern Pacific could pay
more, according to The Wall Street
Journal. But it refers to dividends
not wages. The ability of this carrier
to make profits far in excess of divid-
end requirements is treated as war
ranting an increase in the annual 6
per cent cash payments to stock
holders to z per cent. In 1924 the
S. P. made about 100000 over and
above all interest requirements or
nearly Sill share on the 1914, 1880, 900
capital stock.
Rail Labor Board In Cold
The Locomotive Fi@men & Engine
mems magazine sees the wage settle
ments in western territory as a clear
demonstration of the uselessness Of
the u. S. rail labor board. It says
editorially: 1T is worthy of special
note that in the memorandum of
agreement between the Southern Pac-
ific and the Brotherhoods no reference
whatever is made to the railroad labor
boards decision. That the abortive,
and insofar as the brotherhoods are
concerned, unsolicited decision was
designed to aid certain western rail-
road arrangements in an effort to de-
stroy the engineers and fremen's
schedules must be apparent to anyone
having close knowledge of the facts
in the premises.
Said decision, however, far from
having that effect, served to arouse
the officers and members of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
and our own brotherhood to the point
Of fighting to a finish for the preser-
walton Of their agreements unimpaired
by the abrogation Of the single rule"
Commerce Journal Talks Rail Strike
Likelihood that a strike will be
forced on the brotherhoods by western
carriers in 1925 is suggested in
signed articles for the Chicago Jour.
nal Of Commerce by T. F. Woodlock.
Evidently after talk with represen-
tatives Of the arrangements on Jan.
3 he urged the public to protest
against the working rules Of the
brotherhoods.
He said in part: at is clear from
the action of the railroad employees in
connection with the recent labor board
decision that the brotherhoods are in
a mood to defy the public. They have
not yet given up the hope of eliminat-
ing it from direct participation in the
adjustment of labor disputes in the
railroad industry and they still hope
to abolish the labor board by means
of the Howell-Barkley bill.
at Is not impossible that this year
may see an open conflict afterthe fash
ion Of 1922. For this reason Il ls Inn
portant that public opinion should be
awakened in good tnme. The place
to begin reforms 10 In the working
rules. Sooner or later we must have
show down on this thing and no
time will ever be more appropriate for
Il than now"