Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-01
Phone Pay Decision
Received FavorabIy
By Both Sides Here


Employees and officials of the Ches-
apeake & Potomac Telephone Co
today appeared satisfied with the
decision of the War Labor Board
granting $3.50 operators weekly wage
increases between 81 and IS and some
200 clerical employees a weekly wage
increase of about So. Increases of
SO also were granted to telephone
workers in New York City, Louis
vile, KY, and Memphis, Tenn.
In New York, however, a strike
of operators was threatened.
Counsel for the Federation OF
Long Lines Telephone Workers In
New York reported workers were
considering reinstituting a strike
notice under the Smith Connally
Act. Attorney Henry Mayer charged
that the WLB had overridden the
telephone panels recommendation
of a SIS weekly increase for New
York operators and had even cut
the company's own offer of 81.
In Washington, the board decision
was Endorsed by Mrs. Mary E. Gan
non, president of the Washington
Telephone Traffic Union. She COM
mented that, SO far as the operating
force is concerned, sit appears that
it will be satisfactory"
Months of Negotiations.
The WLB findings, described by
Chairman William H. Davis as "a
sound and practical approach to
the peculiar problems of the indus
try" followed months Of negotia-
tons. Failing agreement between
the company and the union, the
local wage dispute went to a WLB
panel last September.
WLB made the wage increases
retroactive to April /, 1914, and also
decreased the length Of the progress
sion schedule from 10 to 3 years.
The present minimum wage for OPP
orators is $40 a week and the max
imum S33.
On the question of temporary OPP
orators brought in from other cities
and paid extra for room and board
the board stated that it was felt
that the new rates will alleviate
the necessity for having borrowed
iemployes in Washington within a
reasonably short time and will create
the conditions under which the an
Inounced intention of the company
to remove all transferees can be
| fully effective"
The board ordered the two parties
to meet. if necessary, with respect tc
any question which might arise In
the future regarding borrowed en-
lployes. The union had strenuously
| objected to the importation of op-
orators and paying them extra
allowances.
Findings Called Reasonable"
H. Randolph Maddox, vice presi
dent of the telephone company here
said that while the company ha.
not completed its study of the Will
decision, preliminary review in
dictates that the findings are "rea
sonable."
The company official added: 10Th
er wage proposals which have beer
agreed to between the company ant
the union that represents plant
accounting, commercial and othe
employes are still before the boart
for approval, and the compan.
hopes that a decision on these pro,
posals will be received SOON"
Cases acted upon yesterday arr
the first stemming from the nev
ltripartite national telephone panel
which has jurisdiction over all dis
putes and voluntary requests TO
approval of wage increases in thu
telephone industry.
Mr.. Davis pointed out that the
| panel found that application of the
Little Steel formula in the tele.
phone industry presents no spe.
cial problem other than the tech
nical ones arising from the lone
automatic progression schedule.
Action on the question of substand.
ards was deferred, Mr. Davis said
until the problems of gross inequi.
| ties are met.
Another popularity which create.
a special problem in applying boarc
wage policy on gross inequitie:
arises from the fact all Associated
Bell companies are part of a single
CLOSELY woven system" he declared
The panels recommendations
which followed "a careful and pains
taking study" met the boards
lima pirnollS annrnval Mr. Davis said