The Connecticut labor news., 1924-05-24

line of discussion which naturally and working hours.
 The trolleymen's conference board after canvassing the desires of the various local unions throughout the state, about three weeks ago presented Mr. Punderford proposal for new agreement asking minimum wage of 75 cents an hour Several of the local unions urged an even higher rate but the conference board struck an aver age and put in the 75 cents request, the company having claimed that the incrase in fare made early this year was necessitated by the increase in pay given the trolleymen last June. The trolleymen differed with the company in this respect and decided that inas- much as they were being blamed for the increase in fares they might as well get the increase and enjoy 1t. Hence their request for the 75 cents an hour minimum.
 The company, it is understood, has hatly refused to consider the amount asked for so that the difference is the result. The meetings began Tuesday -and have continued constantly since and will not be concluded until next week, perhaps on Tuesday, when a final answer will be given the confer ence board and by them reported back to specially called meetings of teh union late next week at which the men will decide for themselves whether or not to accept tn ecompany's terms. There is, of course, no danger of a strike, the rules of the union providing for arbitration i'll case of final dis agreement Both sides are, however, sick and tired of arbitration as was necessary two years in succession so there is hopes of mutual understand ing being reached next week and new agreement amicably put into ef- feet on June 1.
 The bus development by the com pany has proved one of the stumbling blocks on the negotiations. On the company's side it was believed the trolleymen were planning to get rid of present operators and put their own men onto the buses. Nothing is furth- CT from the fact, the trolleymen ex- plaining that they have no desire to interfere with the present bus opera tors but they do desire that in the fu- ture when bus lines are extended mem- bers of their organization be given chance to bid in for the jobs. There are hundreds of skilled chauffeurs among the trolley car operators and these they feel should begiven chance when bus lines are put into operation. While the present operators of the buses are not members of the troll leymen's union with few exceptions, there is no disposition on the part of the union men to interfere with them but rather to cooperate for the gen eral betterment of the service, the company and the workers. Of course the bus operators would be welcomed within the union fold but there is no intention of driving them into the or ganization or out of their jobs, all the men desiring is chance for the bus runs when the company makes further extensions It is expectde today that when the conferences are finally con- cluded an agreement will have been reached whereby old employees who are competent to drive the buses will be given chance to do SO.
 Every city in the state is represented on the conference board the makeup being as follows: Frank O'Meara, Hartford, chairman John Looney and Fred Walker, New Haven; Ernest Hammond and Edward P. Lawton. Hartford; F. L. Richardson, Derby: David Scully, Waterbury; John M. Hurley, Bridgeport; J. H. Wubben- haus, Stamford; w. s. Mayhew, Nor walk; Mol1oy, Shelton, Meriden, and John L. Sullivan, Middletown.