Evening star., 1941-11-13
Rail Unions
Reject Boards
Wage Proposal
Non Operating Units
Make No Direct
Threat of Strike
picture on Page Az

CHICAGO, Nov. 13.-Fourteer
unions of incorporating en-
ployes. representing 100000
workers in the railroad industry
issued a Joint statement today
rejecting the tions
OF the Presidents Emergency
Board for settlement of their
wage dispute.
The statement did not contain a
direct threat of a strike. although
non operating employees authorized
their leaders last September to call
one, and the five big operating
brotherhoods have ordered walk
out to begin December 7.
On the subject of future action
to enforce their demands the state
ment said:
Railroad employees believe in Or
derly procedure, but they are not
willing to accept injustice They
are determined to press their de-
mands for equitable consideration
and relief against present intolerable
wage standards and to gain rea-
sonable vacations.
Called Most Disappointing"
The statement was made public
by Bert NJ Jewell. president of the
A. F. LIS railway employees depart
ment. Continuing, it said:
The refusal of the Presidents
Emergency Board to grant an in
crease in prevailing contract wages
except as to certain minimumS,
and recommending only temporary
additions to wage payments for
limited period of time. is most disap-
pointing to the employees.
The clearly established facts
show that wages of these railroad
workers. on the average. are but So
cents per hour and are 35 per cent
below wages paid similar workers in
other comparable industries.
Incorporating workers asked for
vacation privileges and wage in
creases of from 80 to "a cents an
hour for work which George M. Har-
rison. president Of the Brotherhood
of Railway Clerks. said now pays
them from 33 to IS cents an hour
Provide Week Vacations.
The Emergency Board recon-
mended that they receive boosts OF
cents an hour. averaging 1872 per
cent, together with one week vaca-
tons with pay.
The board admits wage stand
ards in other industries are rising
but completely ignores this fact in
its recommendation the statement
said. While the board pays lip
service to the system of orderly pro-
cedure' required by the Railway
Labor Act it substitutes COM
promise for Justice in the interest
of unanimity among the board men,
bers. Orderly procedure as a substi-
tute for economic warfare cannot
survive unless it produces justice y
Contending that rising food prices
formed another factor to be con-
sidered in the controversy, the state
ment went on:
In spite of these facts, the
astounding suggestion is made that
railroad wage levels continue un-
changed and that a temporary
bonus of 9 cents per hour be pro-
vided to meet this condition. "A
bonus plan in any form is no answer
to this question, nor can it be
tolerated by railroad labor. '''
Called Disgrace to Industry.
THE recommendation of six DAYS
vacation with pay is disgrace to
an industry that gains a large share
OF its business from vacation
activities of the people"
More than 1900 general chairmen
OF the unions have been conferring
here for two days to shape the policy
and procedure in the light of the
boards report.
Their brothers in the running
crafts-350,O00 strong-Were ordered
yesterday to strike December 7, 8
and 9 for 30 per cent increase
in wages. Their leaders had ''flatly
rejected" the boards recommended
ton that they accept ~ per cent
increases.