Evening star., 1944-04-22
WLb Heariinq
Called Today
In Bus Strike
Drivers Meet to
Consider Order to
Return to Work
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
Striking drivers of the Ar
nold-Operated Bus Lines to-
day rejected, 125 to 6, a War
Labor Board order directing
them to return to work. The
drivers continuous session.
was recessed until 8 o'clock
tonight to permit six-man
committee to attend a $3.50
pm. hearing ordered by WLB.
In move to end the two-day
walkout of approximately ITS
drivers of the Arnold Operated
Bus Lines, the War Labor Board
today ordered union and COM
pany officials to appear before
it at $3.50 pm. today to show
cause why the strike should not
be terminated as directed by the
board yesterday.
The order was contained in a
telegram sent by Board Chairman
William H. Davis to H. j. Harris.
Q. B. Hiner and j. g. Hodges, presi-
dent, vice president and business
agent. respectively, of the local
union, and to j. L. Arnold, presi-
dent of the bus line, as the strikers
met in the Ballston Firehouse to
consider the boards back to work"
order.
Chairman Davis Telegram.
The telegram stated:
I'm accordance with its powers
and duties under the War Labor
Disputes Act and executive orders
of the President, the Netional War
Labor Board by unanimous action
directs that you appear before the
board on Saturday, April %. 1914.
at $3.50 pm, room 5341, Department
OF Labor Building, Washington,
d. C., to show cause why the strike
involving members of Division 1919.
Amalgamated Association of Street
Electric Railway and Motor Coach
employees and the Washington, vir-
ginia & Maryland Coach Co. has
not been terminated as directed by
the board on April 81, 1874, and why
the board should not Immediately
invoke the sanctions and penalties
provided by the War Labor Disputes
Act and executive order $780,
After receiving the telegram. Mr..
Harris said the drivers plan to vote
f1rst on the "back-to-work" order.
Richard w. Goodrich of the Labor
Departments Cancellation Service
urged the men to go back to work at
their meeting this morning.
One of the penalties that could be
invoked If the drivers refuse to re-
turn to work, WLB officials said,
would be to order the company
not to negotiate with the strikers
until they go back to work. The
last resort would be referral of the
dispute to President Roosevelt and
Government operation of the line.
Meanwhile, nearly 10000 Airing
ton and Fairfax County residents
were forced to hitch-hike to work
for the second day, with little or no
difficulty reported by workers In
obtaining rides.
Proposal Rejected.
The union meeting was called
after representatives of the COM
lpany's drivers, who walked out for
the second time in five months, yes
terday unanimously rejected a pro-
posal by company negotiators to ar
bitrate employees demands for a
bonus jointly with wage provisions
in new contract.
The WLB back-to-work order was
contained in the following telegram
sent by Mr.. Davis to union officials:
The National War Labor Board
is informed that work stoppage is
in progress by members of Division
1919, Amalgamated Association Of
lStreet, Electric Railway and Motor
Coach Employees of America, which
has caused complete disruption
lof transportation facilities of the
Washington, Virginia & Maryland
Coach Lines. This work stoppage
seriously affects the transportation
OF employees engaged in activities
necessary to the effective prosecu-
ton of the war.
by unanimous action, the Ma
ltional War Labor Board orders that
this strike be terminated and every
lemploye involved in the work STOP
page report for his regular duties
Immediately"
/ Workers Opposed to Order.
/ While emphasizing that the lines
Idrivers have not yet turned down"
the boards order, Mr.. Harris said
sentiment of the workers was pretty
solidly against it,"
The drivers first were scheduled
to meet at o'clock last night, but
postponed their meeting when they
found bingo game in progress at
the firehouse.
The back work" order was
issued in an attempt to break the
deadlock between the company and
(See STRIKE, Page A-23
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