Evening star., 1946-01-16
Union, Company
Differ on Status
|0f Phone Strike
Operators Official
Reports Accord;
Denied by Firm

Contradictory statements, rang
ing from the unions forecast of
an early settlement to the COM
pany's fiat denial of progress,
punctuated the seventh day of the
area telephone op-
orators strike
The only definite phase of the
situation was the continued strike
by most of the Chesapeake & Po-
tomac Telephone Co.'S 5000 op-
orators. And even that was not
too clear in the light of a company
statement that some of the girls
had abandoned the strike to take
over their sWitchboards again.
For IS minutes this morning the
operators gathered at Turner's
Arena to hear a progress report
from their union president, Mrs.
Mary E. Cannon. The meeting was
closed to neWsmen and Mrs. Cannon
chose a rear exit, oStenSibly to es-
cape an interview.
Union Company Farley Reported.
Emerging from the meeting. AL
Harrington of union public relations
SAID the union and company had
held a lengthy conference last
night during which "an agreement
was reached on general principles
which will resolve the dispute"
What the principles were, the
union did not disclose, but a COM
pany spokesman said they were re-
jected.
The union also spoke of a second
company-union meeting scheduled
for some time this afternoon" of
which the company insisted it had
not been apprised.
Union to Seek Contract.
we will try to write the language
that will result in a contract cov-
erlng settlement of the dispute and
return to work" the union said.
- Later Mrs. Cannon said she had
told the operators to assemble again
at turner's Arena at 10 m. tomor-
row, when she would report the out
come of any further conferences
with the company.
Inc Washington Telephone Traffic
Union is in continuous meeting" to
protest new" working conditions
for supervisors and operators which
the company claims are not new
and are among the best in the
country.
Cancellation Awaits Call.
Cancellation Service Commissioner
Richard w. Goodrich has been watt
Inc since Friday for one of the dis
putantS to approach him with a
compromise offer that would war
rant another meeting.
I am hoping one or the other
calls me today" he said. This is
a dispute that cannot be forced
One side must have something tt
offer before there can be any reason
Tor getting together again.
He said he might "go after them
II both the union and company fail
to contact him today. He was not
surprised they held meeting last
night without notifying him, since
they had been told to get together
on their own if possible, he said.
Rumors Quashed.
AS rumors began flying both the
company and union quashed as
ridiculous" report that operators
were being flown in from other parts
OF the country to take over switch
boards manned by nonunion en-
ployes since last Thursdays walk
out.
The company announced, how
ever, that about 100" union oper-
ators were working today. An un-
disclosed number of them continued
to work when the others walked
out and others have come back since
then, it was said.
| Continuing the promise Of I'M
munlty for any operators who woulo
return in the face of a union sol.
idarity plea, the company's state.
ment today contained this para.
graph:
"The company will never agree
with the union to discharge any
employe for refusing to engage II
this strike and viii protect to tn;
utmost of its ability the job Of any
employe who reports to work dur,
ing the strike"
Both the operators union and the
District Federation of Telephone
Workers, the union of 1000 mainte.
nance and commercial employees
planned to file intention to-strike
notices today with the National La.
:. Dor Relations Board.
! The notices will be filed by local.
: throughout the Nation in prepara
ton for the National Federation Of
I Telephone Workers plans to call 9
strike of 250,000 telephone employe.
over wage demands about Feb.
ruary Is.
! phiIin Pvon h~I