Evening star., 1945-12-10
Trucking Strike
nds;Nediator
To Settle Issues
Men Will Resume
Work Tomorrow
Pending Decision

~SSsSiS"
The seven week strike of 241
truck drivers was settled, at least
temporarily, today when a stipu-
latlon was agreed on between
union and trucking firm repre-
sentatives for appointment of
one arbitrator by the Secretary
of Labor to consider all issues in
dispute.
The truck drivers will report to
work tomorrow morning to resume
operation of fleet of trucks whose
idleness had tied up delivery of
Christmas goods from railroads to
stores here.
The decision of the arbitrator, it
was agreed. will be binding on both
parties.
Conciliator Takes Part.
The agreement was reached in
the office of Joseph C. McGarraghy.
who represents the II strike-bound
trucking firms
At the conference, where Mr..
McGarraghy was the sole repre-
sentative of the companies, the
union men were represented by
Thomas P. O'Brien, the general
organizer of the International Broth
hood OF Teamsters, Chauffeurs,
WarehouSemen and Helpers of
America (AFL) and A. w. Stream,
president of Local 639
The Government was represented
by Richard Goodrich of the Con-
Icillation Service, who has been
working on the case.
The conference got under way
shortly after II am. and announce
ment of the agreement was made
about an hour and half later.
Decision to Be Final.
BY agreement among all at the
conference Mr.. McGarraghy an
nounced the results In brief state
ment he said:
| THE union and the operators have
entered into an stipulation whereby
all issues in the dispute will be sub
mitted to an arbitrator to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary of Labor.
The decision of the arbitrator will
be final and binding on both parties.
The union agrees that the men
will return to work without preju-
dice at regular duty time Tuesday.
December II, l945."
i 40 Men Involved.
i Provisions of the agreement were
reduced to writing in stipulation
signed by both parties.
I Asked by The Star if they had
anything to add to Mr.. McGar-
ragh's statement, Mr.. Stream said
only that there were 240 men in
volved. These men will report at
their regular time tomorrow morn
ing, he said.
The hours of reporting are for
the most part in the early morning,
but there are some odd-hour shifts,
he said.
The decision was expected to be
! greeted warmly by stores and the
public, since the strike had tied up
large amounts of Christmas mer-
chandise in railroad cars on the
sidings here.
Many stores had complained
some of their Christmas stocks
were virtually exhausted.
The walkout began October "a
after teamsters contracts expired
with the trucking firms and de-
mands were handed the operators
for wage increases of up to 81 a week
with Is fringe" demands dealing
with vacations, injury compensation
and other issues.
The operators members of the
D. C. Labor Relations Council, an
organization of company represent
tatives set up to handle labor dis
putes-at first fatty refused to meet
with union men to discuss a new
contract.
| Some BOlted Council.
| Some trucking companies, such
as the Jacobs Transfer Co., which
handles all of the B. g. o. Railroad
freight, bolted the council and
raised regular drivers 5la cents an
hour without meeting the union de-
mand for 91a cents, and remained
in operation. Some of the smaller
companies also met union demands
in part because they could not af-
ford the financial loss entailed in a
complete work stoppage.
A seven-point arbitration plan
advanced by the Commissioners,
who entered the dispute in response
to appeals by Washington business
men, was rejected by company coun-
sci on the grounds that it was union
dictated" This offer followed sew
| Gee TPTICYDC poro As1