Evening star., 1946-09-27
BY the Assoeiofed Press

A11 oAe|4 ~, oCpG. q u I'm
citing in a strike of 5000 Du-
quesne Light Co. employees fur
ther threatened this city's power
supply, now dwindling near the
danger point in the fourth day
of a Gripping work stoppage,
and no settlement was in sight.
Union President George Mueller
agreed to resume stalemated nego-
tlations with ANY one in authority
but fixed no time or place and no
conferences were scheduled.
Meanwhile, pickets appeared at
various company plants after disso-
luton of an antistrike injunction.
They halted. delivery of coal at a
main power station. They also per-
suaded bus drivers on % city routes
TO leave their vehicles garaged
rather than cross picket lines. The
bus lines are operated by the Pitts
burgh Motor Coach Co.
Public tenseness relaxed somewhat
as an early morning union order
sent $500 streetcar motormen back
to their jobs to man trolleys which
had been idle since am. yesterday
crippling the city's transportation
system and stranding thousands of
workers.
The Pittsburgh Railways Co. an
nounced it would continue to give
the limited" service it had been
offering since the power strike
started-50 per cent Of normal off
peak" operation. which meant that
about 225 of the systems 1900 cars
would be running.
$4,000 Workers Idle.
About $4,000 other workers re-
manned idle as a result of power
eurtailments.
Electricity in Duquesne Lights
lines overnight was reported at 81
per cent of normal, compared with
10 per cent yesterday and As per
cent the day before.
Pickets marched in front of the
company's power stations and SUBJ
stations, where supervisory workers
and officials Of the firm tried to
keep enough current flowing to sup
ply vital needs. Some power was
being furnished by other companies
and many concerns put private
generating plants in operation.
Six coal trucks were halted by
pickets at the company's big Phillips
plant near suburban Glen Willard
today. The trucks were turned back
from the normal unloading en-
trance, an employees gate" but
were permitted to unload at more
distant gate, too far away for the
slim force of supervisors to move
the coal. Pickets told the truck
divers no further unloading would
be permitted at any gate.
Negotiating Parley Fails.
A company spokesman said the
effect of halting coal supplies at
the plant would not be noticed i'm
mediately. but if 1t is continued
Wen feel it."
A negotiating conference late yes
terday failed to produce tangible
results and representatives of the
company and of the Independent
Association of Employees of the
Duquesne Light Co. broke off with
out arranging new meeting.
Mayor David L. Lawrence speedily
summoned the conferees to his office
in the City-County Building where,
after q session which lasted until
after midnight, an agreement to
resume contract negotiations today
was reached.
Company Offer Rejected.
The union. asking a 20 per cent
pay raise and other benefits, rejected
company offer which would have
given them 5 per cent. The unions
demand would boost average base
rates from S1.18 to $141. The union
also, for the second time, rejected a
company proposal to submit the dis
pute to arbitration.
Street lights remained on through
out the 8l7-square-mile area served
by Duquesne in Allegheny and
Beaver Counties. Citizens had cur
rent in their homes but were urged
to use it sparingly to avert complete
failure.