Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-12
Transit Crews
ToGet 100000
AsBack Wages
Payment Next Month
Results From August
Mediation Award

NaSStS AsSbs NV WV
Overtime back pay of approx
mately 100000 will be distributed to
about 2,400 Capital Transit Co.
workers some time early next month,
1t was announced today by j. E.
Heberle, vice president and con-
troller of the company.
Testifying at the arbitration
board proceedings on the wage dis
pute between the company and en-
ployes, Mr.. Heberle said the pay
ment would be made as a result of
an agreement reached last week
between union and company officials.
The cash will be disbursed to
Motormen, conductors and bus
operators for overtime which the
arbitrators awarded last August
under terms of contract which ran
for the fiscal year July l, 1914, to
June 80, 1945.
Raised From S78,504.
Mr.. Heberle explained that under
the award very complicated for
mula had been set up to pay the men
$78,504, but clerical work would have
taken nearly two years to work out
details. A committee of the union
met with company officials last week,
Mr.. Heberle explained, and it was
agreed that more simple formula
would be used to expedite the pay
ment. The simpler formula will re-
suit in raising the cash due the men
to about 100000, he said.
Mr.. Heberle interjected this an
nouncement in the midst of his tes-
tlmony before three-man arbitra-
ton board where he is contending
that the company cannot afford to
pay an increase of 30 cents an hour
over the current pay for one-man
operated cars and buses, to bring it
up to SIPS an hour.
Mr.. Heberle explained to the
board how the arbitration award
last August had provided benefits
to employees in a new pension plan
and certain so-called fringe" pay
mentS for overtime which would
cost the company about S1,0O0,O0O.
Mr.. Heberle reported that the
average earnings of streetcar and
bus operators had been raised from
7612 cents an hour in January, 1941,
to S1.0312 in October, 1945. This, he
said, was an increase of 35.2 per
cent as against the unions conten-
ton that the men had received a
much smaller increase.
Did Extra Work.
Admitting that the standard base
pay of one-man operator of
bus or streetcar was 95 cents an
hour, plus a bonus of Z cents an
hour, Mr.. Heberle explained in re-
Spouse to questions that the extra
IL cents was earned by the men
who did additional work for the
company.
A few minutes later Mr.. Heberle
introduced a document showing
that the one-man rate per hour,
including a bonus, had been in
creased from 70 cents in January,
194l, to s1.02 at the present time,
a gain of 29.1 per cent.
He submitted statistics from the
Labor Departments cost of living
index showing that the increase in
such costs in Washington had been
29.5 per cent based on the 1885,
1889 figure of 100.
Union Offers Exhibits.
The union, through Ely l.. Oliver,
counsel, yesterday laid before the
board an extensive series of more
than 80 exhibits to support its con-
tention that the company could,
and should grant the 30-cent basic
wage increase demanded.
Statistics were presented from the
companys own records, from the
Labor Department and from transit
companies in other cities to support
labor's argument that Washington
transit workers are being paid wages
lower than the average for industry
generally throughout the country,
and also lower than transit workers
in certain other leading cities.
Local transit mems wages were list
ed as ninth in a list of cities, where
similar workers receive higher pay
Mr.. Oliver was questioned
throughout his presentation by Mr..
Heberle, who occasionally differed
with the labor counsel as to inter-
probation of the figures, or the status
OF streetcar companies in COM
parable cities.
May Finish Today.
Chairman Aaron Horvitz Of the
arbitration board said he hoped the
company could complete its case
today, and the hearings could be
closed late this afternoon. The
board then would attempt to reach
a decision and make an award as
soon as possible, the chairman said.
Contrasting Washington with other
cities, Mr.. Oliver said that the oper-
ating revenue per vehicle mile of
Capital Transit here was SO cents
and the operators hourly rate of
pay $1.02 cents, compared to these
figures: Detroit, operating revenue
per vehicle mile, 371a cents; oper-
ators hourly rate, $1.22 Pittsburgh,
so cents and SLIP; Seattle, As cents
and $1.15.
Mr.. Heberle insisted that Detroit's
system was municipality owned and
would increase fares January 1;
that Pittsburgh's lines were in the
hands of the court and that Seattle's
system belonged to the city.
Mechnics Paid Less.
Mechanics in the transit company
Mr.. Oliver said, were paid less than
those employed in the building
trades by contractors here and ever
by the District government.