Evening star., 1946-03-29
Power Workers
Draft Slavery
GreenCharges
AFL Head Denounces
Tuck Move to Block
Strike in Virginia

action as "embodying the prin
ciple of involuntary servitude,
Gov. Tuck of Virginia toda,
drafted approximately 1900 Vir
ginia Electric g. Power Co. EN-
ployes into the States unorgan
lied militia. subject to court
martial if they refuse to repor
for duty with the State Guar,
IN the event of a Vepco strike.
Meanwhile, J. H. Bradford, Vir
ginia director of the budget, sen
kilograms to the heads of all Stat,
institutions asking that their EN-
ployeS trained in electric and powe
work stand ready for calls to hel,
maintain Vepco service. The strik,
is scheduled to go into effect at mid
night Sunday.
Mr.. Green, who called at tn
White House today, charged tina
the Governor, in invoking a 1891
law authorizing the drafting of mer
into the militia, was trying to fore,
men to work against their will. H,
added: We'll never acquiesce ir
that policy"
Union Seeks Legal Advice.
E. j. Brown, head of the Inter.
national Brotherhood of Electrica
Workers, who accompanied Mr.
Green, said his union was awaitine
legal advice before determining it.
next step.
II don't think Gov. Tuck has the
right to draft these workers." Mr.
Brown declared. 1--WE went through
the normal procedures of Govern
ment and the Governor can't tell us
we can't strike"
Mr.. Brown emphasized that the
workers had agreed to arbitration
but that the company had refused
He said this was in furtherance O,
an antilabor policy which the con.
Germ had followed consistently.
The union official said he and Mr.
Green did not discuss the case with
the President, but had called with
reference to certain inequities ir
shipyard pay rates which they arr
trying to have removed.
May Bring Breakdown.
H. T. Colvin, assistant director o1
corclliation at the Labor Depart
ment, said breakdown in neeotia.
ton was possible following the Gov.
ernor's draft order.
He emphasized, however, that "a.
iar as I know" present plans of tn,
Labor Department are to continue
arrangements for a conference be.
tween company and union repra.
sentatives at 10 am. tomorrow Il
Richmond. He said that unless thu
Governors order interferes, the con.
ference will be held.
Meanwhile, it was learned that
although few hydroelectric plant:
providing current for Vepco are out.
side Virginia and would not be af.
fected by the Governors order
plants in Virginia are mostly coal.
operated and with the aid of neigh
boring power companies could pro-
vide electricity for the Vepco system
Gov. Tuck's proclamation came
after the unions offer last night to
arbitrate.
Orders Served Today.
Members of the State Guard be.
gan serving the orders on Vepce
workers at 8 am Approximately
200 employees received the order ir
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS area.
The Governor also prepared all or.
der to seize Vepco properties, but
said he would not issue it until "such
time as he sees f1t."
j. G. Mcintosh, international rep
resentative of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(AFL), when informed of the Gov
ernor's action, said he had mo i'm
mediate plans" He added that he
is much concerned" about any ac-
tion that might be taken by union
members affected.
Won't Work for State.
Mr.. Mcintosh also said he has
received kilograms from two union
locals in Alexandria and Norfolk re-
jecting the company's retroactive
wage proposal and declaring they
would not work for the State if il
takes over Vepco properties. The
six other locals involved in the dis
pute are scheduled to meet tonight
The union representative said the
company has offered to pay each
employe per cent of his total wages
from April, 1945, to April, 1916, ir
lieu of retroactive pay. He asserted
that the union has offered to accept
10 per cent.
In a statement accompanying his
proclamation the Governor said his
action was taken "for the sole pur-
pose of guaranteeing that these
power plants will be kept open. The