Business: LOAFING ON THE RAILROAD

Featherbedding v. an Honest Day's Work

IN a shack in the railroad yards at Antigo, Wis. last week sat four railroadmen: a fireman, a conductor, a brakeman and a flagman. All together, they collect pay totaling $110 a day, not counting fringe benefits. Their job: doing nothing. Earlier this year, the Chicago & North Western Railroad decided to eliminate one of the two switching locomotives at Antigo because there was not enough work to keep them busy. But the road may not remove the idled crew without union permission, and permission had not been...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!