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ERIE - LACKAWANNA MERGER STUDY

Train Dispatchers

Study XXI

The existing forces and work load in connection with the dispatching of trains were analyzed on the Lackawanna and the Erie, excluding the Western District.

The analysis showd for each dispatchers office its location; the territory covered, divided between single and double track, whether equipped with Centralized Traffic Control and whether dispatching is by telegraph or telephone. A complete statement of all forces assigned to each dispatcher's office was also furnished, together with a description of the work assigned. This was supplemented by a statement of the approximate number of train orders and trains handled by shifts on Wednesday, November 7, 1956, which was considered a typical day.

The force required for dispatching trains under merged operation was then set up in corresponding detail, and the savings estimated by comparing salaries and wages of existing forces with those required for the merged operation.

Estimated savings may be summarized as follows:

             Number of Assignments in Dispatchers' Offices

                         Position                Present          Proposed
               Chief Dispatchers                    7                3
               Asst. Chief Dispatchers             11                9
               Train Dispatchers                   36               27
               Telegraph Clerks                     3                -
               Clerks                               2                3
               Stenographer                         -                1

                               Totals              59               43

The saving of 16 assignments as shown above would be accomplished by reducing the number of dispatcher's offices from eight to four. The reduction in offices and redistribution of forces may be summarized as follows:

                     Changes in Dispatchers' Offices
                                         Number of Assignments
                                         Present        Proposed
               Jersey City (Erie)           14             --
               Dunmore                       4             --
               Hornell                       9              9
               Buffalo   (Erie)              5              7
               Hoboken   (DL&W)             11             20
               Bangor                        3            --*
               Scranton                      7              7
               Buffalo (DL&W)                6             --
                                       -----------------------
                               Total        59             43

              *One or more of the seven-trick dispatchers
               assigned to Scranton may be-located at
               Bangor.

      Annual Salaries and Wages of Employees in Dispatchers' Offices

              Position                        Present      Proposed

         Chief Dispatchers                        73,188      $ 32,988
         Asst. Chief Dispatchers                 101,268        80,184
         Train Dispatchers                       307,500       235,956
         Telegraph Clerks                         14,616         ---
         Clerks                                   12,528        18,792
         Stenographer                             ---            4,572

                             Total              $509,100      $372,492

        Net Estimated Savings                                  136,608

        Payroll Taxes, Vacations, etc.                          22,431

        Total Estimated Savings                               $159,039