Evening star., 1943-11-20
Bus Strike Ends
In To-Day Truce;
Service Begun
Union Drivers Vote
To Resume Jobs;
PorIey Slated

The day-old strike of operators
on the Arnold-Operated Bus
Lines, which seriously hampered
transportation between Wash
lngton and nearby Virginia.
ended in Today truce when
drivers returned to work at 9
am. today.
Company officials said full sched-
ules were in operation by noon.
They were confident that service
would be normal for the afternoon
rush, which begins at pm. Tho
first bus left the garage at 9:25 am.
and the others followed as soon as
they had been serviced.
The end of the strike was voted by
the drivers at a meeting which be-
gan at am. Announcement OF the
vote to return to work did not come,
however, until $3.50 am-too late
for the drivers to handle their morn
ing rush loads.
Ofhclals of the union, Local 1919
OF the AFL Amalgamated Associa-
ton Of Street, Electric Railway and
Motor Coach Employees of America.
later began conferences with j. Fred
kirchner, representing the Virginia
Labor Department, and Fred J.
Rice, company attorney, in an at
tempt to iron out differences on
wage rates and arbitration methods
which caused the union operators to
call walkout at midnight Thurs
day.
Motorists Help Again.
Meanwhile. the 10000 residents Of
nearby Virginia who ride Arnold
buses again depended on friendly
motorists and on the two other Vir.
ginla bus lines to get them to work.
A survey of the routes normally
covered by Arnold buses showed al
most nobody waiting at bus stops
and only scattered few trudging
hopefully toward Washington. Most
people on their way to work were
picked up almost Immediately by
the first passing automobile that
had an extra seat. A check of sew.
eral Government departments re-
vealed little or no absenteeism
among Virginia residents.
First indication that the strike
would end this morning came late
yesterday when union officials said
they would urge resumption of serv-
ice in response to telegram sent
by Carl R. Schedler, deputy execu-
tive director of the War Labor
Board. In his wire, Mr. Schedler
informed the union that the WLB
could not act while the men re-
mained away from their jobs.
Any stoppage which interferes
with transportation or with the sue
cessful conduct of the war he said,
cannot be tolerated as a matter Of
public policy. This stoppage is in
clear violation of the no-strike
pledge of the major labor organiza-
tions to the President to the effect
that no strikes would occur for the
duarnon of the war"
Old Contract in Force.
The WLB official pointed out that
directive issued by the agency No.
vember II continued in effect terms
OF the contract which had expired
May 18, unless there were modifca-
lions agreed to by both parties.
Union spoKesmen had said one Of
the reasons the drivers had walked
out was that no contract existed
with the Arnold company.
1t also was explained by Mr..
Schedler that matters under dis
pute had been certified by the Sec
retary of Labor on November II and
that these controversial issues
should be presented to a tripartite
panel appointed by the regional
War Labor Board. which would
make a prompt report to the re-
gional board for action.
The WLB representative urged
the union to attempt settlement Of
the dispute through arbitration, as
provided in the contract, and re-
minded the drivers that should this
method of settlement fail, "the
board is prepared to proceed imme-
diately toward a hearing and de-
cision on the matters in dispute"
| Kirchner Aids Settlement.
o. B. Hiner, president and busi-
ness agent of the union, and John
H. Cookman, special organizer, said
shortly after they received the tele-
gram they would recommend that
| the men return to work.
| Mr.. .Kirchner entered the dis
pute yesterday to act as a liaison
| (See BUS STRIKE, Page A-S)