The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-19
Government Putting
Through Extension
OF Basic Pay Cuts
Only Organized Fight BY
Rank and File Can
Stop Them

CHICAGO. Ill, Feb. 16.-SentlmenG
smong railway workers against wage
cuts and for increase in pay 70 meet
rising prices Is the reason that Presl-
cent Roosevelt has joined the rail-
road managers in their demand that
the railroad men accept a contlnu-
anoe OF the deduction Of 10 per cent
from their pay which has been gong
on since February 1882.
Roosevelt also gave his support 10
the managers in obtaining an extern
sion Of the cut from October 1885 10
July 1884
A committee Of the General Man
s.qers Association on Feb. l4tn
served formal notice OF Is per cent
permanent cut in basic wage rates as
substitute for the present temporary
10 per cent deduction agreement
which unless extended AUTOMATICALLY
expires on July LIST.
Il vas well known by the ralroao
bosses that the railroad workers |oulo
NOT stand for a further cut; Ihey
are. in fact, demanding immediate
restoration of the 1881 wage scale
and an increase sufficient to cover
the increased cost Of living. It Is 70
block these demands that Roosevelt
proposed a continuation OF the present
rates for another six months
Against Rank and File
The last extension Of the 10 per
cent deduction was made without the
consent of the rank and file railroad
workers. The Grand Lodge Otncefs
asked their membership for 1ull
authority to deal with the situation
last .Juue when the managers as part
Of their strategy to obtain con-
tiuuance OF the deduction served
notice Of q % and q half per cent
cut.
The workers we're told by their
labor chiefs that they needed fun
authority TO stop the drive on wages.
The workers understood that they
we're voting authority for q general
strike if necessary 10 prevent any FUR
tner wage cuts and TO stop any fur-
ther deductions from pay checks. In
stead of using the power placed IN
heir hands by the workers to stop
The wage cut, the Grand Lodge ON
GERS Joined hands with Roosevelt ana
the railroad managers in eXtendlng
the 10 per cent deduction.
Roosevelt's activities against rail-
road workers has not been confined
to wage cutting. He appointed Prof,
walter M. Splawn, notorious for his
anti-labor activities and friend Of the
companies when named as the So
called neutral member Of Arbitration
Boards, to I'LL g vacancy on the inter
state Commerce Commission. This
VAS done over the protest OF organ
iged railroad workers.
Again acting upon the request OF
the President the Grand Lodge ON
GERS Withdrew all objections presented
10 the Senate Committee. Even
Coolidge rejected" Prof. SplaTr's
nomination to the I. G. g.
Roosevelt had the Railroad emer-
gency Transportation Act passed by
Congress and named Eastman as Co
ordinator and thousands Of railroad
workers have been thrown out OF thet1
Jobs as g result Of the savings and
economies effected under this law
Following Esstmans recommendations
the stagger plan Of work has been
applied to the railroads as TO no other
industry.
Government Steps In
Government interference In The
form of emergency Boards appointed
by Roosevelt prevented the organ
lied workers on the Mobile g. Ohio
The Southern Pacific Co., the D. &
r. @. and other lines from using the
strike to prevent further wage cuts
and violations of working agreements
BY the companies and TO enforce
settlement of disputes arising out Of
rule violations.
Many railroad workers are under
the illusion that the present admins
tration is favorable to labor.
Events Of the past two years have
taught an expensive lesson. Railroad
workers are learning they must no
relax the economic struggle for Wagei
and working conditions. That theil
high salaried Labor Executives" be-
tray them at every opportunity. Ina
the policy Of the Roosevelt Admins
trstion Is to cut wages and rais'
prices, that it represents the interests
OF the bosses and not of the workers
and they are rapidly learning tina
rank and file unity and action on tht
lob is their trump card.
We cannot be fooled twice in a row
with the same trick. The rank anC
file are nov demanding immediate
return OF the 10 per cent and M
revision OF working agreements II
the interests Of the companies. w,
must organize the rank and file 70.
action to defeat the wage cut.