Evening star., 1944-11-23
Strike
Continued From First Page J

Federation of Telephone Workers,
was the outgroWth of union protests
against payment by the Ohio Bell
Telephone Co. of coSt-of living
bonuses of S1825 weekly to operators
imported into Dayton to augment
the regular staff. Regular operators
get $2l weekly. The company said
the payments were necessary.
Operators in % other cities joined
the walkout in sympathy and plant
maintenance men in a number of
areas voted to recognize their picket
lines.
After the deadlock of negotiations
here, the federation appealed COR
"active support" from Al affiliated
unions, which brought the threat of
a further spread of the stoppage to-
day.
Earl Cup, editor of the Ohio Fed
eration's Bulletin, commented: IF
the Government takes over it would
mean at least moral victory for the
federation.'
Effect of Decision.
Refusal of the Ohio union leaders
job drew from Nathan P. Feinsinger,
WLB hearing chairman, the asser-
ton that you have taken on the
Government of the United States.
No union has done this yet and sue
ceeded. This is the effect of your
decision"
War Labor Board members
stressed that under WLB policy
nothing could be done to settle the
Ohio dispute as long as the strike
continued. Later they told the
Washington union that a work
stoppage will only succeed in delay
ing final decision"
William Dunn, president of the
Cincinnati Federation of Telephone
Workers, announced that 1000 union
employees of the Cincinnati Suburban
Bell Co. would vote tomorrow on the
question of joining the walkout.
Michigan Threat Called illegal"
The Michigan strike threat was
termed illegal" Illogical" and "a
clear violation of the Smith-Con-
nally Act" by George M. Welch,
president of Michigan Bell.
Every one knows that the war
effort in Detroit and throughout
Michigan will be seriously impaired
by interrupting the telephone serv-
ice which helps the citizen get his
day-to-day job DONE" Mr.. WEIGH
declared at Detroit.
Leon Cousens, federation attor-
ney, claimed that if some operators
were persuaded to stay on duty fer
two consecutive shifts the company
was violating State law which he
said restricts employment of women
to 10 hours in any 24-hour period.
The walkout did not affect inter-
state lines, since they are operated
by American Telephone & Tele-
graph Co. employees not affiliated
with the Michigan federation.
A picket line of Is or 30 women,
some with cards saying strike" and
support Ohio" pinned to their
coats, marched before the building
entrance. The scene was orderly.
Other Developments.
Elsewhere throughout the Nation
were these developments:
j. A. Beirne, president of the
Workers National Federation, said
in statement released at Baltimore
that the strike is really a grievance
of all telephone workers in the Bell
system" and national in scope
He added, however, that the ma
tional federation "can not order
people to strike, neither can it order
them not to do So.'
Mr.. Bierne's statement said thai
underlying factors of the Ohio strike
was the attitude of the Bell COM
pany lin executing what they con.
slider company policies of long
standing to the exclusion and utter
disregard for collective bargaining
"The practices of the company
in this and other cases destroys the
very freedoms and objectives fol
which our members and all work
ers are fighting for on the field oi
battle"
Federation members at Pittsburgh
voted ito support our national fed.
Grafton officers in any action they
may deem necessary in connection
with the emergency"
Steps Planned in Maryland.
Governors of the Maryland fed
Grafton said appropriate and con-
sistent steps will be initiated" after
acknowledging the Ohio federation's
appeal.
Edwin r. Hackett of Chicago, at
torney for the Illinois Telephone
Traffic Union, said heads of % locals
in Illinois had been notified to advise