Evening star., 1946-01-09
Western Electric Insta||ationMen
Begin Strike Here in Possible
Forerunner Of Full Phone Tieup
WuIkout Over
Pay Spreading
Throughout U. S.
BULLETIN.

DSAA<GAAl\s
A meeting of all operators
OF the Washington Telephone
Traffic Union has been called
for Turner's Arena at II am.
tomorrow, Mrs. Mary E. GAN
non, president, announced
after a meeting of the union
general council today. The
meeting has been called to
discuss grievances brought
by the union over working
conditions for supervisors,
Mrs. Cannon said, and had no
relationship to the Western
Electric strike.
Five hundred equipment in
stallation workers in the District
and three nearby States struck
against the Western Electric Co
today as part of a national
walkout which threatened a
general tieup of the Nation s
telephone communications.
Members of the Association OF
Communications Equipment Work
ers, most of the strikers did not re-
port for work at am, thus jump
the union previously scheduled for
II am.
Called in New York by Ernest
Weaver, national president, the
strike spread two hours later to New
Jersey, where more than 600 work
ers walked off the job.
Others Walk Out.
Shortly thereafter communica-
tiops workers in widely scattered
sections of the Nation left their
jobs, apparently substantiating a
union boast that its 5000 members
save those in New York, would re-
Spect the strike order. New York
employees we're scheduled to quit this
afternoon.
In none of the localities was there
picketing, but New York union lead
ers said it would begin Friday and
that once pickets were thrown
around exchanges and telephone Of
fees, they had assurance telephone
workers would not cross the lines.
For the present the strike will not
interfere with telephone service, but
long-distance and manually operated
telephones would be interrupted if
the walkout became general. Dial
telephone service would not be eff
fected until breaks occur, but union
leaders have estimated the entire
system would collapse week or 10
days after repairs were discontinued.
No Picket Lines as Yet.
r. L. Austin, District representa-
tive, said the men had quit under
orders from national headquarters
issued through F. G. Pfeifer of Bal
tinore, president of Local 96, which
embraces the District, Virginia
Maryland and West Virginia.
Mr.. Austin said no picket lines
would be established around the
Washington Western Electric facili-
ties, or the telephone company, until
further notice from New York.
However, two telephone company
unions claiming 5000 employees
called executive meetings today te
consider strike action. One was the
District Federation of Telephone
Workers, maintenance and CONNER
cial employees, headed by Car
Schultz.
The other was the Washington
Telephone Traffic Union of 5000
operators, of which Mrs. Mary E
Cannon is the president. Both un.
ions have said they would author
ize strike votes if ordered by the
national union.
Meets with Job Stewards.
Leader of the operators who con-
Quoted one-hour Sitdown strike ir
Washington last Friday, Mrs. Gan
non discussed a course of action with
job stewards.
The telephone unions and three
others Within the Western Electric
Co. here are all affiliates of the Ma.
tional Federation of Telephone
Workers. headed by Joseph A. Beirn'
of New York. About 1900 Western
Electric workers, also affiliated with
the NFTW, have been on strike fol
a week and Mr.. Beirne has indi
Gated telephone unions might b.
asked to strike in sympathy.
However, both union and compan.
spokesmen emphasized that today
strike was based on a contract dis
pute between the communication
equipment workers and Western
Electric, and was not sympath,
movement.
Seek $1.70 Per Hour.
Mr.. Austin said the local wa
striking in connection with a con
tract on which bargaining has pro
ceeded since April, 1945. The install
lation men are asking salaries com
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