Evening star., 1946-04-28
Hopes Of Ending
Bus Strike Hinqe
On Farley Today
Agreement Reached
On How to Select
Third Arbitrator
(Picture on PAGE ABB

The nearby Virginia bus strike
remained deadlocked last night
as Federal conciliators scheduled
a meeting for II am. today in
an attempt to end the transit
tieup affecting more than $4,000
suburban passengers.
Hopes for an immediate settle
ment of the walkout were blasted
yesterday when an eight-hour ses-
sion between company and union
representatives failed to reach an
agreement to end the dispute which
has inconvenienced Arlington Coun-
ty residents who depend on the
Arnold-operated buses to carry
them to work in the Capital.
Federal officials, however, ex-
pressed the hope that today's meet
ing would end the tie-up. But both
union and company officials in
dicated they would stick to their
respective positions in the dispute
T"c lHCEeaSe ASKED.
Fhe main issue holding up settle
ment of the strike appears to be the
refusal OF the union to accept the
company's stand that any wage in
crease granted the bus drivers be
contingent on approval by the In
terstate Commerce Commission of
the bus firms application for fare
increases. The company seeks to
raise the present 10-cent fare to Is
cents, or two tokens for Is cents.
Representatives of the union
Local 1919, Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Street, Electric Railway and
Motor Coach Employees of America
tAFL), have asked for substantial
increases and other considerations
Principal demand is for a s1.18-an-
hour wage for drivers, with s1.2S
after six months instead of the cur
rent rate of 88 cents an hour and
20 cents after years employment
1t is reported that the manage
ment has countered with an 8-cent
boost estimated to- cost $4,000 a
year. Company officials assert that
the unions demands would cost
s268, 600 a year. The Scent pro-
pcsal was made contingent on ICC
approval of the fare boosts.
Approval Plan Rejected.
Another factor holding up agree
ment is the unions refusal of the
company's proposal that any wage
agreement shall have the prior
approval Of the National Wage
Sterilization Board.
Some hope for facilitating settle
ment of the walkout was offered
at yesterdays extended session
when union officials accepted sew
eral proposals offered by the COM
pany to the unions original de-
mands.
For one thing, both parties agreed
that the two arbitrators already ap-
pointed by the respective parties
Will have three days to agree on the
third arbitrator who shall be dis
interested and shall act as chair
man." 1t was settled that if agree
ment cannot be reached in three
Gays, the National Wage Stabiliza-
ton Board will appoint the chair
man.
The agreement marked a definite
progress in the negotiations since
the firm demanded previously that
the third arbitrator be appointed by
the Public Utilities Commission of
Arlington County while the ,lniop
asked for Federal Government an
polntment of the third panel mem
ber.
Meanwhile, union officials de-
clared their members remained ION
CALI to operate the ia Arnold
operated buses as soon as the issues
were settled. Company spokesman
said they were anxious to resume
service, but added that the walkout
was the most indefensible strike
ever called in the WASHINGTON area :"