Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-03
Decision Of Railroad Arbitra-
ton Board Ends Years Dis
pute = Affects Trainmen,
Con duc tors, Baggage
men And Flagmen - Men
Had Asked for 10 Per Cent
Increase, Given 7H-Other
Roads Awaited Decision

New York, Dec. s.-(P)-Fourteen
and one-half million dollars were add
ed to the annual wages of virtually
$1,000 employees of so eastern railroads
by railroad arbitration board de-
cision today.
The decision, climax of years dis
pute over the wage increase demands
Of trainmen, conductors, baggagemen
and fiagmen, was rendered almost coin
cident with the announcement of L. r.
Gwyn, vice president of the American
Railway Express Company, and lead
ers of unions representing $4,000 en-
ployes that they, too, had decided to
arbitrate wage dispute that has been
under discussion since October, 1925.
Today's decision of the arbitration
board granting the u per cent. in
crease to the eastern trainmen, fol-
lowed hearings at which arguments
and testimony from each side were
heard. The employees had sought a 10
per cent. increase, offering evidence
that they were justified by rail earn
ings, living conditions and other
things. The railway companies met
their demands with the assertion that
no wage increase was justified at this
time.
The action of the arbitration board
is considered of more than national
significance in light of indications that
Canadian rail employees were awaiting
the boards decision to guide them in
their wage dispute with Canadian rail-
ways. The Canadian railways en-
ployes have already voted to strike but
no date has been announced for the
strike.
The increase for the employees of
eastern railroads will become effective
as from December 1. The board stood
four to two on the vote.
A report issued by the arbitration
board stated that the increase was
justified by full consideration of all
conditions and circumstances pre-
scented in the record, and of the Pc
culiar, exacting, hazardous and re-
sponsible character of services per-
formed
The fiat increase of Z 1-2 percent
affects road and yard operatives on
the daily rate basis. Mileage rates
are to be determined by dividing the
new daily rates by 150 and 100 for
passenger and freight service re-
spectively. Monthly rates will be
determined by multiplying the new
daily rates by 80.
Special adjustments equivalent to
Z 1-2 percent increase are made for
car retarders operators and the diff
ferent types of train and mail bag
gageman.
The announcement was made by
G. Wynn of the American Railway
Express Company and affects the
Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, the
Order of Railway Expressmen and
the American Federation of Elk
pressmen. They will appoint men,
bers to a board of arbitration con-
sisting of a representative of the un-
ions, the company and third MEM
Der to be selected by these two. In
creases of IL 1-2 and IL cents an
hour are sought.
Today's decision affects directly
all steam railroads north of the Ohio
river and east of the Mississippi, ex-
cept the Delaware & Hudson, the
Perre Marquette. the Maine Central,
the Ann Arbor. the Bangor & Aroos-
took and a few short lines that were
not parties to the group negotia-
lions nor to the agreement to accpet
arbitration.