The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-29
Policies and Programs
The Trade Union Press
Strikes-In1unctions
Labor and Imperialism
BOARD LISTENS
TO ExPRESSMEN
IN WAGE CLAIM
Ask IL Cent Increase to
Live Decently
BY FRED HARRIS.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27-An arbitra-
ton board is in session at the present
time to decide upon wage scale for
the employees of the American Rail-
way Express Co. The board is COM
posed of E. A. Etedman, vice-presi-
dent of the company; William B. Will
son, former secretary Of the U. S.
department of labor, and John H.
Clark, former justice of the supreme
court, who is acting as impartial chair
man.
There are three unions involved in
this dispute, the Brotherhood Of Rail-
way Clerks, the Order of Railway Elk
pressmen and the American Fedora
ton of Express Workers. These
unions are asking for an increase in
their wages of from 10 to IL cents per
hour, which demand originated some
years ago when wage increase of
25 cents was asked for. Later on a
U. S. labor board granted them an in
crease of 16 cents, which, however,
was subsequently reduced by the COM
pany to cents, to be paid from the
date Of Aug. 8, 1926. The unions claim
that the company tried to refuse pay.
ment of even this small increase by
Withholding the payroll from union
officials.
Demands of the Men.
To justify the present demands of
IL cents increase, the Representatives
of the unions cited figures to show
that the earnings of the American
Railway Express Co. are far above
those Of the parcel post department
of the U. S. postoflce They also
show that the wages paid by the rail
roads to their employees are much
higher than those paid by this COM
pany. For doing the same kind of
work the railroads pay their men as
high as $205; the maximum wage by
the American Railway Express Co.,
however, is only SIG, a difference OF
almost $50. However, these maximum
wages are paid to only a nominally
small number Of workers, the average
rate Of pay being about $3.50, some
workers receiving only $106 month.
E. V. Bradley, spokesman for the
unions, also showed that systematic
reduction of wages is being carried on
by the company by transferring en-
ployes from one department to an
other, so that an employe. who has had
a salary of $126 finds that after he is
transferred he is only getting $106 a
month. This has been a general prac-
tice in Detroit.
Trying to Make Ends Meet.
Many witnesses are called to tell
of their own deprivations, due to the
starvation wages which they are get
ting. One man, T. F. McDermott, is
married and has seven children. His
rent during the last four years has
increased from $35 to $50, yet his pay
is as love as ever. He stated that he
has no means whatsoever for any sort
of recreation. His months pay is
spent during the first two weeks on
food, clothing and rent; the rest of
the time he is always trying to get
credit and to get loan here or there.
The union also introduced much evil
dence to show the danger in the trade
due to holdups and train wrecks.
Numerous instances were shown
where the men had lost their lives, or
were cripples.
The company is represented by l..
r. Gwynn, also a vice-president of the
company, who seeks on all occasions
to nullify the argument of the unions
officials. The board will adjourn the
proceedings for the holidays and con-
tinue again after Jan. 8. 1t has 80
days in which to examine the case and
must render a decision on or before
Jan. 20. ~