Show Trainmen Wait Meets On Pay Hike Proposal V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON April 19 UP- UP The threat of a wide nation-wide railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road strike hinged Friday on acceptance acceptance acceptance ac ac- ac- ac or rejection of a factfinding factfinding factfinding fact- fact finding boards board's wage boost recommendation rec rec- for more than locomotive engineers and trainmen The government board suggested suggest suggest- ed cd a cent 16 hourly boost with I certain changes in working conditions con con- but the findings can be either accepted or turned down doln by bythe bythe I Ithe the carriers or the two unions in in- in i The brotherhoods of or locomotive engineers and trainmen had postponed postponed postponed post post- a scheduled March 11 strike the boards board's study Under the railroad labor act the strike now is barred until May 18 Most such finding fact-finding reports in past disputes have led to settlements without strikes I I Unions Call Meet The two unions called a meeting for next Wednesday at Cleveland i to determine their stand Alvanley Alvanley Alvan- Alvan ley icy J Johnston head of the engineers engineers engineers engi engi- told reporters at Cleveland the boards board's recommendations were not as much as we asked for forA A. A F. F Whitney trainmen's president president president dent declined comment The carriers' carriers wage conference committee planned to meet Friday Friday Friday Fri Fri- day in Chicago to consider the board Doard recommendation and then to talk with representatives of the brotherhoods on Monday The railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads recently asked for a 25 increase in freight rates partly to compensate for arbitration awards April 3 giving similar 16 cent an hour pay Increases to other railroad workers worker The board In the locomotive engineer engineer engineer en en- and trainmen case said in its ts report filed Thursday with President Truman that it felt bound to follow the wage pattern set et in the earlier cases In order to avoid inequity and discontent The engineers and trainmen had asked a 2 50 a day hike or about 31 cents an hour Panel Action The panel pa passed ed upon only a a. afew few of ot the 4 44 changes in working working work work- ing lag rules asked by the two unions and 29 changes asked by the car car- Among these was a recommendation recommendation for an increase from 52 to 85 cents a day in the differential differential dif dif- di- di between yard conductors and brakemen Time and a half pay for or extra men in yard service also was approved Provisions of the earlier arbitration arbitration arbitration arbi arbi- awards unlike the findIngs findIngs findings find find- ings in thi report dealing with the engineers and trainmen were binding on the carriers and unions by prior agreement However the 15 brotherhoods representing representing rep rep- resenting more than workers have asked for a cent 14 wage increase on top of oC the 16 cent award to make up the full 30 cents they originally demanded In New York Wellington Roe chairman of the National Rank flank and arid File of oC the railroad operating operating op op- op- op crating brotherhoods said the recommendation recommendation rec rec- was so so far tar removed from the realities of or the situation tion as to be termed fantastic The net gain for the railroad is one of the smallest wage in increases increases in- in cre creases es recently granted In any in industry in- in The association claims to represent represent represent sent of approximately railroad workers in six unions |