BRITISH RAILWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 19941, 10 August 1928, Page 6

BRITISH RAILWAYS

THE WAGES AGREEMENT GENERAL ACCEPTANCE EXPECTED 1 ~ (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ■RUGBY, August 9. (Received August 10 at 11.30 a.m.) The railway wages provisional agreement for a 2J- per cent, cut all round was accepted yesterday by a majority decision of the delegates to the conference of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. The endorsement of the agreement was strongly recommended solely on the ground that, in view of the railway situation and the general state of trade, it would bo impossible to get a better settlement. Mr J. H. Thomas, at Carlisle yesterday, predicted that before the end of tho week the agreement would bo finally accepted by aU the parties. Tho delegate conference of the National Union of Railwaymen to-day accepted by an overwhelming majority the provisional agreement under which the wages on the railways are to bo reduced. Tho voting was 7V delegates for and 3 against. It will bo recalled that it was part of the agreement that the directors of the railway companies should submit also to a 25 per cent, reduction in their fees, and this co-operative effort has undoubtedly had a great effect in procuring the acceptance of tho reduction in wages by the men.