Evening star., 1946-01-18
New Strike Plan
|foIIowsEndof
Phone WaIkout
Union and Company
Begin Speculation on
National Stoppuge

!. Begin Speculation on
National Stoppuge
The Washington telephone strike
front was quiet today as 5000
operators returned to work after an
eight-day walkout, but preparations
already were under way for another
walkout tentatively scheduled a
month from now.
Long-distance and local service
hardly was restored to normal this
morning before company and union
heads began specializing on what
was ahead in the way of q more
serious labor tangle proposed on a
Nationwide basis.
Operators started returning to
their switchboards shortly after 7
o'clock last night when they learned
of the settlement effected an hour
and a half earlier. 1t was a jubiliant
occasion in Turner's Arena for the
workers, many of whom were grow
ing impatient after weeks pay
less" vacation.
Head Proclaims Victory"
They went back to work knowing
they would not be paid for the time
spent holding out for better work.
ing conditions, but they also went
back with the word victory" as
pronounced by Union President
Mary E. Cannon, ringing in their
ears.
What they actually achieved by
the continuous meeting" was an
agreement whereby three union and
three mpany representatives
would study work assignments and
make recommendations for any
changes that may appear desirable. u
The committee will function until
March 81, 1947, unless otherwise
mutually agreed"
Now the Chesapeake g. Potomac
Telephone Co. is faced with the
necessity of satisfying the union in
new wage demands to avert full
fledged strike in mid-February.
sympathy Strike Possible.
Even though the parties reach an
agreement on the 50 daily wage
boost demanded, a walkout of all
telephone union workers is possible
in sympathy with the National Fed
Grafton of Telephone Workers Ma
tion-wide strike proposed for next
month.
The operators union was among
other locals affiliated with the NFTW
which yesterday filed notice of strike
with the National Labor Relations
Board as prescribed by the Smith
Connally Act.
Both the company and union were
hopeful of reaching an agreement
on the wage negotiations which have
proceeded to the point of company
offer OF SIS in answer to the unions
opening feeler for $1o-the increase
being asked on national basis.
Bargaining to Resume.
Mrs. Cannon said the bargaining
probably will be resumed next week.
Should other locals af1iliated with
NFTW 60 out as part of a national
strike. the operators would be
obliged to respect picket lines, she
said. Other issues will be involved
in the national strikes, including a
return to the 40-hour week.
The union planned to appoint its
three members to the company
union work investigation commit
tee late today, Mrs. Cannon said.
Sometime during the night-the
company could not say Just when
normal flow Of long distance and
manually operated local telephone
service was resumed.
AS late as midnight, however,
persons calling long distance" were
informed by recording that only
emergency calls still were being
handled even though the operators
were returning.
Company Also Sees "Victory."
If the union considered terms of
the strike settlement a victory" so
did the company. The union had
laid down a long list of demands
covering desired changes in work
assignments for supervisors and
operators and hit at new duties"
it said were imposed since the war.
Under the declaration of prin-
ciples" which terminated the strike,
the company is committed only to
studying existing conditions with
union representatives and recon-
mending any changes that may
appear desirable"
The company has contended it is
asking nothing new or Objectionable
in the way of work assignments.
Jobs Were Assured.
The operators went back to work
assured their jobs were safe from
determinations or punitive action
or discrimination" on the part of
either the company or union.
Text of the declaration of prin-
ciples" follows:
l. The union and the company
both agree that the public is entitled
to the best possible telephone serv-
ice and that such service should be
rendered under good working con-
ditions. The operating force will
return to work and perform the
duties pertaining to their employ
ment as assigned by the company.
Committee to Be Named.
2. The union and company agreed
to appoint a committee of six, three
from the union and three from the
company, composed of employees
other than the present bargaining
agents, which committee will insti-
tute study of the work assignments
and make recommendations for any
changes that may appear desirable.
This committee so shall function to
March 81, 1947, unless otherwise
mutually agreed.
8. There shall be no recrimina-
tions or punitive action or discrimi-
nation on the part of the company
or the union for any reason result
ing from this work stoppage. Nom
payment of wages for time lost
during the work stoppape Is not tn