Evening star., 1939-03-14
Deadlock Persists
As Hotel Strike
Farley Recesses
Further Compromise
Proposals Offered
By Both Sides

Representatives of opposing fac
tions In Washington's hotel strike
were still deadlocked early this
afternoon after two hours of do
or die" conference at the Labor De-
partment. The conference recessed
shortly before o'clock until 2:3O
pm.
DR.. John R. Steelman, Labor
Department conciliator, answered
only still deadlocked," to a ques-
ton concerning the progress of the
conference. officials of both sides
of the controversy declined to COM
ment.
Further compromise proposals
were being presented by both sides
meeting in the presence of Gov
ernment conciliators, an original
middle way" plan having been re-
jected late last night by the hotel
operators after the unions had &C
cepted it.
Grievance Board Chief Issue.
AS the conference resumed today,
DR.. Steelman was frankly pessimistic
regarding the outcome of future ne
gotiations He stated that unless
some satisfactory agreement is
reached Immediately. the strike
may last indefinitely"
officials of both sides are under
stood to be giving primary consid-
Grafton today to the matter of set
ting up board Of arbitration de-
signed to settle grievances between
hotel operators and employes-the
principally disputed issue.
A compromise plan the unions
had accepted was returned at the
parley last night by the hotel ne
gotiators as unsatisfactory without
certain changes and variations.
These the union refused to accept.
The parley continued until after
midnight and officials quit the meet
ing deadlocked once again.
Unions Accuse Hotels.
Union negotiators threatened to
revert to their original demands
for a strict closed shop rather than
accept the changes in the compro-
mise plan as proposed by the hotel
managements.
After the meeting, the unions
issued a statement accusing the
hotels of blocking efforts to settle
the strike, while hotel officials con-
tended they could not accept the
compromise plan as accepted by the
unions.
The union shop" variation is
still bone of contention, but the
limited question of arbitration to
review all grievances admittedly is
the principal issue over which the
unions and the hotels still are at
odds.
When the new deadlock appeared
unavoidable the unions threatened
to call out their members at the
Washington Hotel, thus far unaf-
fected by the strike because the
management already was bargain
Ing with the unions for a contract.
Or. Steelman pleaded with union
leaders to withhold such a move, at
least for the time being, and his
request was granted.
A walkout at the washington.
however, probably will take place if
the warning factions fail to reach a
definite compromise at the session
today.
After negotiations collapsed last
night. DR.. Steelman stated: There
Is not one chance in 10 that the
parties will be brought together for
some time to come. I am definitely
pessimistic. OF course, as long as our
conferences continue there is hope
but from the present outlook the
strike may last indefinitely"
Compromise Plan Outlined.
In the compromise plan, formu-
lated on the basis of facts brought
to light during the conferences with
DR.. Steelman, the unions agreed to
recede from its demand for a closed
shop, accepting the following pro-
visions IN lieu Of their original de-
mands:
l. That hotels in future employ
only union help, but in the event
such is not available non-union
workers may be employed on the
condition they join the union within
stated time.
2. That present non-union men
will not be required to join the
union.
3. That an impartial Board of
Arbitration be established to review
all grievances. -
The hotel officials are understood
to have baked at arbitration in the
case Of layoffs, promotions and dis
charges, insisting that these actions