THE WAGES FIGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11253, 4 July 1922, Page 6

THE WAGES FIGHT

Ii.S.A. RAILWAYS GREAT STRIKE COMMENCES IN WORKSHOPS. TRAIN SERVICES NOT AFFECTED. By Telecra ph . — V ress Assn. — Copyri t. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, July 1. Railroad shopmen throughout the country struck to-day in pursuance of an order following on tho refusal of the managements to forgo wages re* duct-ions. The union leadens estimate that 400,000 men are out, but the railroad officials declare that only a small percentage of the men have left work. The train services are not affected, since the equipment was recently placed in excellent condition, with the exception of a small number of freight cars. Eleventh-hour efforts by the Railway Labour Board to avert the strike failed. The grievances are the recent wage cuts and the elimination of overtime for work on Sundays and holidays. The strike affects blacksmiths, machinists, boilermakers, electricians, metal workers, and others. The maintenance of way men are taking a strike vote, but the engineers, firemen, trainmen, and conductors do not contemplate a strike. Extra guards have been placed in the principal shops. Tho White House announces that the Government will fully support the Labour Board's decisions in regard to wage reductions. THE COAL CRISIS CONFERENCE BEING HELD. ' ■ WASHINGTON, July 1. President Harding is holding a conference -with representatives of the coal-strikers and mine-operators. He urged the strikers and operators to resume mining immediately, and to adjust their differences at joint secret conferences. The President warned the parties that unless the strike was soon terminated, the Federal Government would use its entire power to enforce an ending. Representatives of the parties began an immediate conference, in which Mr Davis (Secretary for Labour), Mr Hoover (Secretary for Commerce), and Mr Falls (Secretary of the Interior) are taking part. CANADIAN FREIGHTS WHAT REDUCTION MAY MEAN. OTTAWA, July 1. The Canadian Government haa today announced a reduction of 7$ per cent, in freights on basic products, foods, building material, and steel. It is expected that this will be followed by wage reductions, when the workers will probably strike.