Evening star., 1946-09-08
Utility Union Calls
Strike for Tuesdav
In Pittsburgh Area
By tho Assoc;o,.d p,..,


PITTSBURGH, Sept. IA strike
OF power company employees in
Pittsburgh and its industrialized
environs was called tonight to be-
GIN at l2:01 am. Tuesday unless a
wage dispute is settled by that
time.
Such a strike would affect 1900
600 persons In an BIT square mile
! area including scores of small in
oustrial communities near here
which receive their electric power
supply from the Duquesne Light Co.
About $500 employees are involved.
George L. Mueller, president of an
independent union of the company's
workers, set the time for the strike
tonight in a radio broadcast.
Profit Sharing Demanded.
He said the "two-and- -one half
day delay" in starting the strike
would give the people ample oppor-
tunity to prepare for this emerg-
ency, caused by the mismanagement
OF the Duquesne Light Co.
The union-the Independent As
sociation of Employees of Duquesne
, Light and Associated Companies
seeks a master contract covering
nine groups of employees, a 20 per
cent wage increase and profit shar-
ing among other demands.
Pressly H. McCance, president of
the company, made this comment:
The Duquesne Light Co. will do
everything in its power to avert
catastrophe
The decision to strike came as
no surprise to us who have been
dealing with Mr.. Mueller for a long
while.
He would bring catastrophe on
this area in violation of a contract
and in violation of the advice of all
thinking people"
Tells of Offers.
He said the company has made
offers on 20 separate items. many of
them completely fulfilling the
unions demands.
The company serves the city of
Pittsburgh and mill towns along
the Ohio River for a distance of
about 40 miles east of here, includ-
ing the city of McKeesport with a
population of more than $4,000, and
Beaver Falls, with more than 10000
people.
Mr.. Mueller, in his announce
ment. referred to emergency ar
rangements which have been made
by the city to keep hospitals and
other public buildings equipped
with electric service in event serv-
ice is stopped He said: The mem
oers OF the union will be only too
glad to assist in installing anyI
emergency equipment and this serv-
Ice will be rendered free of charge.
Mayor David L. Lawrence, who
has served as mediator in the dis
pute. has requested q Army gen.
orators here to meet any emergency.
Earlier Strike Lasted 10 Hours.
Contract negotiations have been
going on for weeks. The strike was
voted by the workers last Tuesday.
to take effect las soon as possible" j"
A similar strike last February.
lasting 10 hours. virtually suspended
production at steel mills and other
heavy industries and caused a furry
Of blackouts in homes and in street
lighting for a brief period while
available electrical power was ra-
toned
The union last week turned down
arbitration and act-finding board
as means of settling the deadlock.
Asked if this strike would be 100
per cent effective, Mr.. Mueller re-
piled that this would be a total
strike"
Mayor Lawrence asked for the
Army generators primarily to keep
the city's water supply moving
through the mains to meet an IS
million gallon daily requirement.
He said the city would not have
SUFFICIENT generators to furnish
street lighting,