Evening star., 1941-10-05
Hotel Strike Ayerted,
S500,00O Pay Raises
Won by Workers
Cancellation Service
Praised as Both Sides
Aoree to Settlement

I
Washington hotels vat averted
Yesterday when representatives OF
the management and the workers
agreed, at a meeting in the Office
OF DR.. John r. Steelman, director
Of the Labor Departments conCilla-
ton service, to terms of settlement
involving wage increases OF approx
rately s5O0.0O0 a year and individ-
ual raises ranging from 10 per cent.
The unions had voted to strike
at midnight last Monday, but were
persuaded by Dr. Steelman TO stay
on the job pending further nego-
tiations. At the same time the
management was asked and agreed
to reopen negotiations with the
workers
The $500 walters. bartenders and
other employees had demanded wage
increases up to Is per cent and a
closed shop. While the exact terms
of settlement were not revealed. it
was indicated that the workers OBJ
tanned a substantial portion Of their
wage demands The closed shop
however, WAS IlOl lliSluICu III lIlC
agreement. Observers pointed out
that hotel employees already have q
modified closed shop, with the
unions furnishing requirements
whenever possible.
Ratification a FOrmality.
The agreement was signed by
delegates of the local joint EXecu-
tive Board of the Hotel and Res
taurant Employees and the Bartend-
ers' International League and the
Hotel Association of Washington.
The employees board acted for Bar
tenders Local IS, Service Employees
Local 80 and Catering Employees
Local 781, all afihated with the
American Federation of Labor.
II was announced that the men,
hership of the largest union in
volved, the catering employees, had
approved the agreement, a while the
Executive Boards of the other two
had sanctioned it. Membership
ratification by the bartenders and
service employees was regarded as
only formality. in view of the
Endorsement of their boards. which
had authority to act.
In a statement which both sides
authorized, Dr.. Steelman said:
'Tt is estimated that the settle
ment will result in increases of
wages for the employees represented
by the unions of approximately
s50O.000
Raises at Least 10 Per Cent.
lower-paid categories will receive the
largest percentage increases, but in
no instance will the increase be less
than 10 per cent.
In addition to wage increases. the
employers granted an improved va
cation plan and seniority rule"
DR.. Steelman added this comment:
"A peaceful settlement has been
wrought from 200 hours of negotia-
ton. A strike would have spelled
failure for both parties and unfair
treatment Of the public. Fortunate
ly, in This instance, both parties
realized their obligations to each
other and the public. Today. when
too often this is not the case. the
unions and hotel operators of Wash
ington are to be complimented ir
the highest terms.
If all employer and union rep
resentatives would try as long anc
hard to settle before, not after, work
stoppage, keepers of strike statistics
would need nSgnifying glasses
Gave Them Plain Talk.
Al the first conference in the con-
clllator's Office, 1t was disclosed. DR.
Steelman gave the representative.
Of both factions a plain talk, de.
clartng such a strike at this time
in the Capital Of the world" woulc
be disgrace and a hindrance tc
the national defense.
AS successful negotiations wert
completed yesterday, officials of the
hotelS and the unions united ir
praislng the Concilia ton Service
They agreed that it had maintained
a helpful and impartial attitude
which had PLAYED a major role in
averting the strike.
L. Idi uIleI nOOIe, DTeSlQent O1
the Hotel Association of Washington
Issued a statement in which he said
all the hotels involved were glad of
the agreement, thus assuring un-
broken relations with our employees. >
The wage increases involve SUBJ
stantial sums of money" he added
but the hotels felt that they owed
duty to the public 10 keep ope.
rating without interference to any
service. and this was a major con.
sideration in reaching an agreemen
on this point"
Mr.. Moore added that DR.. Steel
man and his commissioners of con-
ctliation rendered a real service tc
all parties, including the public"
Joseph C. McGarraghy, counsel fol
the hotel organization. and Harry
Kaiser, attorney for the joint EN-.
ployes' board, were spokesmen al
the final conference yesterday.
The hotels involved were the Am
bassador, Annapolis. Carlton, Cont
mental, Harrington, Hay-Adams, La.
fayette, Lee-Sheraton, Mayf1ower
New Colonial, Raleigh. Roger Smith
Shoreham, Wardman Park, Wash
ington and Willard.