Evening star., 1943-11-08
a 10 10Cents
Raise Granted
Rail Workers
Spokesman Reject
Hourly Pay Increase
Approved by Vinson
BY the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
Wage increases ranging from
4 to 10 cents an hour for 100000
railroad workers were recon-
mended today by special pres
idential board with the approval
of Sterilization Director Fred M.
Vinson, but met prompt rejection
from union spokesman
B. M Jewell, chairman of the Rail
Employees Wage Conference Com
mittee, called the recommendations
entirely unsatisfactory"
I'VE consider the proposals to be
entirely unsatisfactory and that
they would destroy our whole wage
structure built up through the years:
the recommendations do not resolve
our difficulties at all Mr.. Jewell
said
George M Harrison. president Of
the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks.
said the scale of wages would be
unacceptable"
Unions Taking Strike Vote.
The Is unions affected. represent
ing railroad workers who do not
run trains or engines, are now
taking strike vote. They are also
relying on congressional resolution
to enforce an earlier award provid-
ing for general 8-cent increase
Originally the men had asked a
straight boost of 20 cents an hour.
Mr., Vinson vetoed the 3-cent award.
which the carriers had accepted.
The presently proposed increase.
effective on regular payrolls Novem-
Der l9 would be retroactive to
February !.
News of the presidential boards
report was received while M.
Jewell and Mr. Harrison were ap-
pearing as witnesses before a Senate
interstate Commerce Subcommittee
considering the resolution to get
congressional approval Of the fiat g.
cent increase.
In response to question by Sena-
tor Reed Republican of Kansas,
acting subcommittee chairman, Mr..
Jewell said the new recommended
tions would have no bearing what
ever on the unions support OF the
resolution.
Would Kill Interpretation.
The resolution sponsored by Sena-
tor Truman. Democrat, of Missouri
would, in effect. declare Mr.. Wilson's
Interpretation of the Scent award
to be erroneous and permit the rail-
roads to pay it.
Mr.. Vinson said today he would
allow also slight upward revision
/ of the recent Accent award to oper-
ating railroad employees in certain
/ brackets.
I Pointing out that under the new
proposed wage scale, the higher paid
incorporating workers will receive 4
! slightly greater increase than oper-
ating employees who receive like pay,
Mr.. Vinson said:
Il shall, therefore. advise the
chairman of the National Railway
Labor Panel that if he receives
notice OF proposed change for
the operating employees which will
increase their rates of pay by the
amount of the difference between
the increase for the nonoperationg
employees in the applicable range
Of rates set forth and cents. he
may regard such proposal as in
conformity with the sterilization
program"
Operating personnel have rejected
the Accent increase, and like their
incorporating fellow workers are
taking a strike vote in connection
with the award
Proposed Scale.
The new recommended wage
scale for incorporating employees:
All wages less than At cents an
hour to be increased 10 cents an
hour.
Wages between At and 56 cents to
be increased 9 cents an hour.
Wages between 81 and SO cents to
be increased cents an hour.
Wages between 10 and 79 cents to
be increased cents an.hour,
Wages between 30 and SO cents to
be increased cents an hour.
Wages between 80 and 96 cents
to be increased cents an hour
Wages of 81 cents and over to be
! increased cents an hour.
: The originally proposed Scent in
crease would have increased rail-
road pay rolls s204 1000 600 a year.
The new recommendation is ex-
pected to cost at least as much.
Mr. Wilson's statement today said
that half of the incorporating en-
ployes will receive cents or more
an hour increase.
In view of the fact that these
new recommendation are conson-
ant with the stabilization program
I shall not disapprove them" Mr..