Northern Pacific Slashes Wages at South Tacoma Shops
A radical reduction in hours for over 800 workers leaves employees with decreased earning capacity.
The story, cleaned up
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A radical cut in the time of the men at the South Tacoma shops of the Northern Pacific railway was put into effect this morning, thus reducing the earning capacity of the men in all departments. The blacksmiths and machinists were cut from six days to five days of eight hours. All other departments were cut to an eight-hour basis but the men will be given six days. The shop, excepting machinists and blacksmiths, has been running on a nine-hour plan but the readjustment will put it on an eight-hour basis. The carmen, lumbermen, yardmen and all departments are affected by the cut. The reduction in time will affect from 800 to 1,000 men and will reduce the payroll at South Tacoma by about 15 per cent.
“The reduction in time will affect from 800 to 1,000 men and will reduce the payroll at South Tacoma by about 15 per cent.”
Railroad shops were once the industrial backbone of Tacoma’s economy, making these localized pay cuts immediate threats to household stability. Today’s gig economy and flexible scheduling carry similar risks to worker financial security, echoing these 1909 concerns about corporate austerity.
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