New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-25
TROLLEY COMPANY
RECEIPTS DECLINE
Drop 100000 in Five Month
Period, Employees Told

Explaining that receipts for the
first i've months Of the current year
were 100000 less than for the same
period last year. the Connecticut
company today issued . statement
explaining tn attitude toward wage
demands Of its employees. Tho state
ment follows:
THE Connecticut Co. has for sew
eral weeks been meeting with 4 com.
mittee representing certain Of the
employees. The questions discussed
were requests Of the men for in.
creased wages and changes in the
working conditions. The matter.
most strongly urged by the commit
tee were wages and the eight hour
day for all employees.
THE company told the commit.
tee that the revenues Of the COM
pany had fallen of over 100000 for
the first five months this year a.
compared with the same period last
year and that 1t does not want tt
ask for an increase In fares unless
absolutely. necessary.
The trolleymen are now earning
an average Of Sc an hour. an aver.
age weekly wage OF 1861 for mer
who work six days or less a week
and S4z.3S for men working seven
days: while many whose rate 10 69e
per hour for regular time and
$l.0315 for overtime, earn "a high
as $50 = week. All trolleymen ma,
take at least four days of duty each
month. Due to steady work, trolley
men earn a higher yearly wage than
workers In most OF the skilled trades
where layoffs are frequent.
"The company was reluctant to e.
tablish an eight hour day for oil
motormen. conductors and shop EN-.
ployes. pointing out that In various
factories the hours are . and 10 and
that the mems runs were now laid
out in conference with the local
committees representing the men on
each division looking towards meet
ing the wishes OF . large majority
Of the men. Tho company also be-
lieves that the eight hour day would
be unpopular with the employees as
whole as 1t would decrease their
wages from - to - q week. This Is
borne out by the fact that the Oldest
men in years Of service with the
company who have first choice OF
runs, generally choose the longer and
better paying runs.
''In an endeavor to meet the wish
es Of the general committee urging
the eight hour day for all employees,
the company offered to allow the
men on each division to choose
whether or not they desired an eight
and one-quarter hour day but finally
agreed to make one-half OF the runs
on the entire system 80 they would
not call for more than s Ia hours
work day. although the company
felt that the present system OF ar
ranging runs, which has been in ef-
feet for some years. met with the
approval Of the employees.
THE last arbitration held to settle
differences between the company
and the men was in 1925. At this
time the board Of arbitration found
that the wage was q fair wage,
Since that time due to decrease In
the cost Of living and an increase
in wages, a cut OF five cents an hour
would leave the men as well of as
was found to be just in the wage
rate confirmed by the board Of ar
bitration in the winter OF 1925 but
the company offered to allow the
present wage scale to remain In ef-
feet for another year.
1.-THE company has advised the
committee that 1t is willing to ar
bitrate the matter Of wages as 1t has
done heretofore"