Imperial Valley press., 1943-11-18

1ul power QlVlS1O0 pmDlOye
other residents OF the valley, pledg-
ed themselves to keep the district
system operating in event of
strike.
Directors of the Imperial Irriga-
ton district and farmers were dead
locked in a jurisdictional dispute
with the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers, members of
which said they intend to pull
the switches and walk out" if the
district board does not agree to
make the union the sole bargain
ing agent for the power employees
of the district. The board refused
to do SO because they were inform
ed by their counsel that such a
move would be illegal for political
subdivisions such as the district.
CALL OFF STRIKE
The labor union called off the
strike scheduled for midnight We'd
nesday agreed to arbitrate all issues
with an arbitration committee ap-
pointed by the war labor board or
the California bureau of industrial
relations, and to abide by the deci-
sion. The union gave the district
board until noon Thursday to &C
cept its offer to arbitrate.
Shortly before noon the district
board met in special session and
instructed Chairman Evan T.
HeWes to telegraph the war labor
board and the bureau of industrial
relations that "the farmers and
taxpayers of this district have de-
clared their intention to operate
this system and not deliver it to
any union organizer and the board
OF directors are carrying out their
policy"
The telegram said "if there was
any issue between the employees of
the district and the board there is
no reason the employees of the dis
trict cannot appoint their own
committee from among the en-
ployes and discuss any problems
they have with the district man.
agement and board of directors
There is the kindliest feeling
on the part of the board and my
self toward the employees of this
district and the employees toward
the board and myself. Many of
these taxpayers are taxpayers and
owners of this project and are old
residents of this community :.
The board is now and has been at
all times past willing and glad to
discuss any problem with the en-
ployes as individuals or with a
committee that they may appoint
from among themselves"
STAND BY DECISION
This telegram was interpreted as
meaning that the board is stand
ing by its decision not to deal with
union organizers. HeWes said that
district employees had told him that
the union organizers refuse to let
the employees talk to him or the
board.
Soon after issuance of this tele-
gram, union officials said they
were waiting for word from GER
tain party" but refused to reveal
the hour they intended to strike
or to enter into much discussion
of the situation. -
Earlier in the day the organiza-
ton committee of the central labor
council issued signed statement
declaring, among other things, that
the employees of the electric divi-
sion of the Imperial Irrigation dis
trict resent the NaZified actions of
the farmers in posting armed
stooges of the Imperial Irrigation
district at the various plants. In
view Of these actions the electric
ians union will not wait minute
over the "a hour period promised
the war labor board pending word
from the Imperial Irrigation dis
trict. The responsibility is now on
the Imperial Irrigation district to
act so that no stoppage of work
occurs"
BRING IN ARMY
The strike was originally sched-
uled to begin at midnight Wednes-
day but was postponed after a
telegram from Lieut.. Gov. Fred
Houser to the Union asking that
strike be prevented. Houser inti-
mated that military units may be
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