The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-11-23
ENTIRE COUNTRY
IS FACING CRISIS
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president Of the Michigan Tele-
phone Employees Federation, said
1000 operators in war-vital De-
troit would leave their jobs at
a IN. unless 1.-The government takes
over the Ohio strike situation.
The WLB addressed its warn
ing to the Washington telephone
union after learning the Ohio
unions efforts to make the tieup
nationwide.
Long distance calls were accept
ed here tonight only on an emer-
eency basis. Local service on auto
matte telephones was not affected.
Operators leaving a union meet
ing here tonight said the strike
would continue and picket lines
would be thrown around telephone
buildings tomorrow. Union leaders
COULD not be reached immediate
ly.
A spokesman for the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Co., serv-
ing the Washington area said:
"A number of operators are al
ready out, how many we don't
know yet. But enough supposed to
be on duty are not there to at
feet things some and cause par
tial showdown of services. Maybe
they've left to 60 to the union
meeting, tonight, I don't know:
The WLB's message to the Wash
ington Telephone Traffic Union
said that ''any interference with
telephone service in the nation $
capital at this critical period OF
the war cannot be tolerated"
The trouble started in Dayton
when workers walked out in pro-
test against company allowance
Of s18.25 weekly in living cost bon
uses to temporary operators
brought in to augment the regular
Dayton staff.
President J. A. BERN OF the Ma
tional Federation Of Telephone
workers, in a statement issuee
through the unions headquarter'
in Baltimore tonight, said the Ohi'
strike was "really a grievance o
all telephone workers in the Bel
system" and national in scope.
He said the federation fully sym
pathizes'' with the members il
Ohio, although it could not orde
anyone to strike or refrain from
doing so.
In Chicago. Edwin R. Hackett
attorney for the Illinois TELEPHONY
Traffic Union, said Mrs. Anne Ben
scooter, president of the organiza
ton, had notified heads of % 10
Gals in Illinois to take immediate
action on the Ohio telephone work
ers request for support Of thei
strike. --
The Indiana Bell Traffic En-
ployes' Union, in a statement a
Indianapolis, declared itself not II
sympathy with the Ohio strike.
At Des Moines, Miss Arle Val
Dkye, president of Local 1541, tn,
triffic division of the Northwestern
Union of Telephone Workers, sale
officers of the union had decided
to give "moral support" to thu
striking Ohio workers, but added
that she was positive that we viii
not walk OUT
Meantime, the War Labor Board
was preparing to send the Ohio
case along to the White House IL
an effort to settle the trouble at it.
root. The Onion union leaders hac
fatty spurned a WLB order to hal
the strike.
In the Washington area there are
2,700 workers, most of them usee
for long distance calls. Local ser
vice is mainly performed through
the dial system and any delays ii
calls are expected principally il
long distance service.
The Pentagon, huge War De
partment building, and Navy De
partment offices are served b,
dial systems which the telephon,
system said can handle only loca
calls