4.4i1Waymen's Wages Though the machinery for settling wages claims for
the railwaymen broke down last year, and there has keen dissatisfaction among the men, none the less the relations between the companies and their employees Might well be held up as an example to the coal industry. A provisional agreement, was arrived at in the August of •last year under which part of the wage-cuts were restored ; and in the mean time improved machinery has, been devised, and is now being put in operation to deele with the further demands of the . unions., In spite; of Aliscontent about the wage-cuts, negotiations last. ears and this have. been carried on in a manner Which mekes for peace. Unlike the coal-owners, who refuse to negotiate nationally, representatives of all the te'ilWays met representatives of the three unions who net fee the men throughout the country. Each side is in the, habit of taking the other into its confidence. The position is not simple, because the railways had been depressed long before the " cuts " were made in 1901, and that year is therefore from their point of view not a true starting-point... But there ,is not much doubt but that the machinery, which permits of joint discussion in the first place and provides for recourse to a disinterested tribunal in the second, will enable agreement to be reached.
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