Evening star., 1946-01-11
Operators
Continued From First Page. }

completely shut down on long dis
tance circuits.
Union leaders have contended that
dial telephones would become use
less without maintenance should the
strike continue week or 10 days
However, telephone company engi-
neers insist service might continue
for months without a breakdown.
Dial System Working Well.
Commenting that service condi-
tions remain unchanged" r. H.
Maddox, vice president and general
manager of the telephone company,
said the public had no reason to
be concerned about dial telephones,
since, barring accidents, they are
capable of serving many months
without serious breakdown"
Mr.. Maddox said that, regardless
Of how long the strike lasts, the net
loss of service to the public will be
less than would come with a con-
tinuation OF slowed down and sabo-
tagged service which the union spon-
Sors."
! He said that, instead of fully re-
specting the picket lines, about rs
per cent of the telephone company's
installers, linemen, maintenance
men, business Office and accounting
employees are on duty"
Interests Are Parallel.
While the installation workers and
operators were striking for different
reasons-the former for higher
wages and the latter for better
working conditions-their interests
paralleled since both are NFTW
affiliates.
The operators have said they
would remain off the job until their
demands are met and today Mrs.
Cannon refuted reports she would
be glad to see the Government seize
the company. She declined to say
whether operators would return to
work if the Government took over.
A Labor Department spokesman
said no plan for the Government to
assume control has been drawn up
but that wouldn't take long to do"
Operators Meet Tomorrow.
The operators will meet again at
10 am. tomorrow at Turner's Arena,
scene of yesterdays first session.
In view of conflicting reports as
to whether the picket lines would
be formed, some workmen seemed
undecided about what course to
take. At the Western Electric plant.
about 100 employees fingered outside
the building for several hours to
ascertain that the pickets were
there to stay.
Eight pickets assembled at the
telephone company building at 725
Thirteenth street N.W-three on
the Twelfth street side, four on
Thirteenth street and one in an
alleyway. A policeman was sta
toned at each position.
| Police Squad Detailed.
Only one picket was assigned to
the exchanges in the 1400 block of
Columbia road NV. and at 1700
Fourteenth street NV.
Acting Superintendent of Police
Harvey G. Callahan said only one
extra squad of 10 plainsclothesmen,
led by 1t Harry c. Blackman, had
been detailed to the strike.
In addition to the District tele-
phone exchanges, pickets were ac-
tive at the Silver Spring, Bethesda
and Hyattsville Offices in Maryland
and the Arlington and Alexandria
exchanges in Virginia.
Crux of the dispute between the
operators and company, Labor De-
partment spokesman said, was a de-
mand by the company that operator
supervisors revert" to their for
mer schedule of duties. The COM
pany denies 1t is attempting to force
new duties on the supervisors or
that any of the duties are too heavy.
Contesting a company statement
that duties asked of supervisors
have been in effect long time, Mrs.
Cannon said that for 81 years, the
supervisors performed none of the
duties to which the union objects.
The company, she charged, dug up
rules from Is years ago and has is
sued numerous orders in the past
few months demanding that they
be followed.
The equipment communications
workers are striking for wages COM
parable with telephone company