Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-12
VOL PAY DISPUTE
FARLEY RESUMED
TechniCians Meet With Com.
pany Officials on New
Wage Scale.

Negotiations were resumed at 10
am. today in the wage dispute be-
tween Radio Station VOL and tech
nicians after General Manager Will
liam B. Dolph had notified employees
Of the recommendation that he would
be willing to make to Leroy Marx
president of the American Broadcast
ing Co., operator Of the local Mutual
network affiliate
Since Ais pm. yesterday the sta
ton has been operating under an
"armistice," both sides agreeing tc
take no determined action pending
outcome of this mornings conference
The arrangements latest proposal
would establish a basic rate Of $50. SO
per week, with an increase of $1.5O
per week each six months up to a
maximum Of $50, which would be
reached In seven years. the new scale
to be placed in effect Immediately on
final acceptance by the technicians.
Wage Comparisons. Made.
Mr.. Dolph pointed out that the
rate being demanded-$35 to $55-
compared with $37 to $3.50 scale
in force at Baltimore station
charging four times VOLS hourly
time rate and approved by the C. I. O..
afi1liated American Radio Telegra-
piers Association. The station head
contends the technicians are being
unreasonable in view of VOLS low
power and charge to advertisers. The
employees are pressing for wages which
they consider comparable" to those
recently won by Columbia Broadcast
ing System operators in New York
City and Washington.
Negotiations for the men have been
conducted by John Austin, local organ
izer for the union, with John CAN'T.
Oldest technician in point of service,
as spokesman for the employees.
Although c. I. O. activity was begun
in September and conferences with the
management were being held recently,
first indication Of the strike came yes
terday morning when listeners dialed
in vain for the Musical Clock program.
Four men staged the sit-down in the
control room at the stations main
quarters in the Heurich Building, while
three more held" the transmitter on
the top floor Of the Annapolis Hotel.
After Mr.. Dolph had refused to re-
sumo negotiations until the station was
put on the air, the technicians agreed
to truce, and Tony Wakeman took
the microphone at AIS. No explana-
ton was given the radio audience.
A further difficulty faced the station
yesterday when the Federal Communi-
cations Commission was notified. as
required, that the transmitter was
silent. The Federal agency informed
the management that it could not
sanction protracted period of the air
unless it was impossible to procure any
licensed technicians A station with
authority to operate "a hours a day II
desired must remain on the air accord
ing to F. C. C. rules, two-thirds of that
time, except in emergencies beyond the
control Of the management.
No Action Likely.
Commission sources explained, how
ever. that the granting of q petition
to remain silent by the F. c. c. would
alter the situation. and that, even
though no such plea were allowed. no
steps would be taken against a sta
ton if it were unable to find qualified
That the labor trouble disrupted
the normal routines of many Washing
tonians was evidenced by the hundreds
of telephone calls which poured into
VOL to receive the explanation of
technical difficulties"
A woman complained that she had
been standing around in her shorts.
and everything" waiting for the re-
ducing program. Followers of the
numbers game" fretted when they
were unable to obtain the Pimlico race
totals at the usual hour.
Cheerfulness prevailed at the sta
ton throughout, however. The an
nouncers, taking no part in the strike.
lounged in the studios, posed willingly
for gag" pictures to denote idleness.