Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-05-29 | Page 5 | Stand of R. R. Men on Wages

STAND OF U. 1 INJNIEES Minimum Wage of $2,500 for Common Labor Is Considered Con-sidered Essential CHICAGO, May 29. Officials of railroad employes' organizations not only will feel compelled to refrain from trying to prevent the men from leaving railroad service but will acquiesce ac-quiesce in Euch action if taken, unless un-less the railway labor board grants a prompt and just increase in wages. B. M. Jewell, acting president of the railroad- labor department, American Federation Fed-eration of Labor, testified In closing labor side's rebuttal In the hearing being be-ing conducted by.the board. At the same time Mr. Jewell declared declar-ed that any award which did not include in-clude a minimum wage of $2500 a year for common labor, establishment ofi differentials taking Into consideration! tho hazard, experience and responsi- bility and consideration by the board: of the national agreements made when 'the roads were under federal control,' 'would not be considered a "Justl 'award." I I Mr. Jewell's demands for a "prompt1 and just" decision by the board was a I reiteration of requests made by rep-1 resentatives of all the other railroad ' crafts in their testimony and elicited i a sharp question from Judge R. M. I Barton, chairman of the board, as to whether "labor was issuing an ultimatum ulti-matum or trying to dictate as to what decision should be rendered." In reply Mr. Jewell declared that I there was no intention of issuing an I ultimatum, but that the employes wanted the board to understand that ! a limit had been reached and that unless un-less fair increases in wages were granted the men the situation might become beyond the control of the union executives. In regard to statistics presented by the railroad representatives, Mr. Jew-1 ell said1: j "Tho roads included overtime in I their compilations. This is not a fair j way to figure a basic, minimum wage. Also, they did not take into consid-j eration the fact that the men work eight hours now instead of ten. While the hourly rate apparently has been greatly increased, the men really are not receiving the big- increases over 1915 pay claimed by the roads," Judge Barton adjourned the board until next Tuesday when tho roads will have a chance for rebuttal.