Evening star., 1946-01-28
|ConciIiators Avert
Power WaIkout in
Virginia, Kentucky
Ey the Associated Press.

PINEVILLE, KY, Jan. 28.-With
a threatened strike of Kentucky
utilities workers averted, at least
temporarily, by 11th-hour efforts,
conciliators, management and labor
Representatives were to meet here
today in further attempt to settle
a wage dispute.
Thomas Davis, international rep
resentative of the United Construc-
ton Workers Union (UMWA), an
nounced last night an hour before
200 essential members of Local 254
were to walk out, that the strike
had been postponed.
Spokesmen for the local said
after meeting here the strike was
delayed at the request of the Con-
ciliation Service. The spokesman
explained that "a great inconveni-
ence would be caused to users of
electricity in this field" and that
it would not take action but would
give conciliation officers further
time to discuss the questions in
volved with Kentucky utilities Of
ficials and union representatives.
Another Meeting Scheduled.
b. c. Willis, State industrial re-
lations commissioner, announced
that the strike was postponed to
permit time for Federal Judge H
Church Ford to rule on the COM
pany's contention that a request of
the union for a wage boost was not
presented properly to the company
Willis said company officials,
State and Federal conciliators and
labor leaders planned to meet here
at II am. today.
Before the announcement was
made that the strike had been post
poned, temporary injunctions had
been granted by jurists in Kentucky
and Virginia in an effort to pre-
vent a blackout of Lee and Wise
counties in Virginia and Harlan,
Bell, Clay. Knox, Whitley, Laurel
and Rockcastle in Kentucky.
Restraining Order Granted.
Judge j. S. Forester of the Bell.
Harlan County circuit granted q
temporary restraining order asked b,
a group of complainants, includins
the cities of Middlesboro and Har.
Ian, against Kentucky Utilities anc
a list of the companys employees
The writ enjoined the defendant.
from "halting. interrupting or inter.
fering with the flow of electric en-.
ergy over" Kentucky Utilities lines
Judge George Morton, in Appa.
lachia. Va, earlier had issued q
similar temporary injunction direct.
ed at Local $50 of the United Con-
struction Workers. its president, w
w. Keith, and 81 others in an eff.
fort to prevent a shutdown of power
facilities in Lee and Wise Counties
Order Holds Until Feb. 6,
The Virginia order is to hold until
February 6, when it will be argued
and either made permanent or dis.
solved. Hearing on the Kentucky
writ was scheduled for sometime to-
day.
Wage negotiations between the
union and the company collapsed
here January Is, j. w. Palmer OF
the conciliation service said the
company refused final union Offer
to accept Is per cent wage increase
instead of the originally demanded
80 per cent.
r. M. Watt, Kentucky Utilities
president, said wages had been
raised 70.5 per cent since 1910, and
that in December the company
voluntarily gave employees an award
of 10 per cent of their total wages
for 1945. Last September, he scon-
tinued, they were offered an in
crease approximating 10 per cent OF
their basic wage.
"All employees except those in our
mountain division bargaining. unit
accepted the increase. It is still
available to them retroactive te
September l." Mr.. Watt said.