The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-02-11
DeldY On Increases
Muy Force Workers
To Seek Other Jobs
Railroad Men Losing Pa
tience Over Prolonged
Pulling. Hduling

Washington, d. G. ULNS).-Treat-
ment of 100000 railroad employees
implies that they are not essential in
the war effort and may force many to
seek employment in Industries where
they will be recognized as doing their
part to win the war, heads of 10
standard rail unions warned here.
Through the Railway Labor ENecu-
tives' Association, the unions COM
planned of the failure of President
Roosevelt to name a member to the
National Mediation Board, which now
has only one active member instead of
three and is therefore unable to func-
ton.
The unions also complained of the
failure of the government to work out
solution of the dispute between the
War Labor Board and National Medi-
alton Board as to the procedure for
an increase in rail wages.
Pay Recommendation FlOuted
In statement issued through
Thomas Cashen, chairman of the asso-
citation the unions said:
1-NIany railroad workers have not
received an increase in wages since
1887 although two Presidential Emer-
gency Boards recommended to the
President of the United States that the
wages of these workers be raised.
Some railroads refuse to accept these
recommendations.
2-For nearly two years the Ma
tiOnal Mediation Board, the heart of
the machinery of the Railway Labor
Act, has been impaired by inadequate
members and now there is only one
member. Thus the law is made in
operative.
3-Railroad employees work As
| (sOme 56 and even 63 hours per week
for straight time. All other industrial
workers get straight time for 40 hours,
one and Onehalf time for the 9th day
and double time for the 7th day. The
average hourly earnings of all workers
I'm the railroad industry is "a cents,
while the average for all other indus
tries is 96 cents. These low wages and
bad conditions in the railroad industry
are Il hangover from the 10 years of
depression.
4-The unions requested the PreSi-
dent to and in May, 1912 he did issue
an executive order which made it un-
necessary to take strike vote and fix
q date to strike to get an emergency
board investigate and report to the
President how dispute should be
settled
5-The President issued an executive
order Oct. 3, 1912 announcing the wage
stabilizatiOn policy. The unions since
that date have been trying to get the
procedure for applying that policy tC
the railroad industry clarified. Several
government officials and agencies have
been urging their pet views and claim
ing jurisdiction Notwithstanding the
President of the United States has
stated several times just what he
wants done.
G-Is this pulling and hauling all q
part of Il we'll laid plan? The railroad
employees are asking for and will, II
given chance, prove they are en-
| titled to Il wage increase. Ihe rall
roads now have the money to gram
the employees request. The country
knows these facts The OPA know!
these facts but they demand railroat
freight rates and passenger fares b.
reduced. They press their demand ant
action thereon is expedited while n
the same time the employees wage
case is stalled by this pulling an.
hauling and delay to act. Is the pur
pose to subsidiZe other industries wh'
are paying higher wages by takin;
money from the railroads so they vii
have Il better claim to continue payin:
low wages? Are the railroad worker
in the war effort or are they not?