The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-12-09

Editorial Note;--On Dee, s-s 1,50o local
rsilroad chairmen were scheduled to meet in
Chicago 10 discuss a 10 per cent proposed
wage-cut The National Railroad Industrial
League has issued the following call to all
railroad workers to prepare for a strike strug-
gle against wage-cuts. Rank and File Con-
fefrice of the Chicago Switching District has
betn called for Sunday, Dec 10, at the Peo-
pies Auditorium, ,4s7 West Chicago Ave, at
10 ., m. All local railroad lodges are urged
to send delegates. The demands OF the Ma
honal Industrial League are; Against any
form, Of wage-cuts, for the immediate estab-
ishnent In all departments Of the 6-hour
day with hours pay. 80 days pay for the
2S-day month, and no reduction In mileage
earnings; for unemployment insurance and
immediate winter relief for the men laid Off;
old age retirement accident, sickness and dis
ability insurance, to be paid by industry and
the government. Abolition Of the speed-up
system-improvement Of working conditions.)
DROTHER UN1ONISTSl
~ The great railroad corporations OF the colln-
try are now taking steps to put into effect the
long threatened wage-cut. In line with the q. S.
Steel Corporation and other big industrial COM
binations, they propose a 10 per cent reduction
In wages, when We are already suffering from
greatly reduced earnings, part-tn1e work, speed
up, layoffs and mass unemployment The COM
edy Of demanding Is per cent freight rate in
crease from the I. C. G. has been gone through
with, the companies never intending that their
request would be granted. Now comes their real
aim which Is to beat down our wages and living
standards. Announcement Of general cut COW
ering the entire industry may be looked for
daily.
Union Officials Secretly Agree to Cut Wages.
The grand lodge officials OF the Brotherhoods
and A. F. Of L. railway organizations are actively
cooperating with the companies In putting over
this wage-cut. At recent secret meetings with
the railroad presidents they agreed upon a re-
ductton The trump card Of the officials in
their attempt to force the workers to accept the
wage-cut, Is their hypocritical talk about "sta-
bilization OF employment" and getting the m-
employed railroad workers back on the trains
and into the shops. The same takers who did
absolutely nothing to stop the wholesale layoffs
Of over $4,000 railroad men within the last two
years, will now attempt to use the unenploy-
rnent issue as sword over the heads OF the
employed to carry through the companies wage
cutting program without making any material
change In the conditions Of employment OF the
unemployed railroad workers.
The union officials program Is In reality in
line with the Hoover-Doak proposal to further
extend the stasger system on the railroads. This
they propose to do under the guise Of securing
the shorter workday" q Q concession from the
oomapauies-the 6-dsy week and the 6-hour day,
which Win carry with It corresponding reduc-
ton In pay.
Double Wage Cut
In train and yard service the union officials
are now enforcing the 26-day month and reduc-
ton in mileage, which has meant Is per cent
reduction In average earnings and has not re-
suited In increasing employment On the con-
trsry, reduction OF forces in these departments
stil continue The trade being nnade by the
grand lodge officials Of 10 per cent wage-cut
for the Shorter wurkday' means double cut
II II Is put through as scheduled, taking for
example: men in yard service nov getting 1862
per 8-hour day b 10 per cent reduction on top
Of the 6-hour day 5-day week will bring wages
down to M,a7 per e-hcur day and 1920 per
5-day week r,-~--.~- ~
Wage-c,lts plus the stagger system-sbolition
OF favorable working conditions. rules and sel1ed-
ules, part-tine Jobs, periodical lay-oifs, the
surssding OF misery and starvation scndtncns