Evening star., 1946-01-13
Conference Delays
Move for General
WuIkout Call

Efforts to terminate the ma
tional tieup of telephone service
failed again last night, but both
union and management repre-
sentatives left a lengthy con-
ciliation conference feeling op-
timistic about a resumption oi
discussions scheduled for II
am. today.
Continuation of the dickering to-
day forestalled any immediate
threat of general strike of 250,O0C
telephone operators and the pos
sibility of Government seizure oi
the telephone system.
Emerging from the Labor Depart
ment conference room after nearly
eight hours, j. P. Lafferty of the
struck Western Electric's labor rela-
tions division said: 1--WE accom-
plished nothing today, but there is
always hope as long as we are meet
ing"
Delays General Strike Call.
Ernest Weaver, president of the
striking Association of Communica-
tions Equipment Workers, agreed
there had been little progress, but
insisted there would be no call for
a general strike of telephone work.
ers pending outcome of today's
meeting.
Joseph A. Beirne, president of the
National Federation of Telephone
Workers, parent of all American
Telephone and Telegraph Co. un-
ions, said things looked to be COM
ing all right at the end Of the day. >
There was little change nation
ally in the telephone snarl which
was created Friday morning when
5000, ACEW Observation-Disclosures
men for the A. T. g. It's Western
Electric subsidiary-began picketing
telephone exchanges in 43 States.
Long Distance Severely Cut.
The A. T. & T. reported that in its
IA key ofices across the Nation the
average number of long distance
boards in operation was 81 per cent.
However, the number of long-dis-
lance calls handled ranged from s to
10 per cent of normal, because
emergency operators were not able
to handle them as rapidly as reg
ular operators, the company added.
Before the announcement that
arbitration efforts would carry
over until today, union spokesman
said the NFTW Executive Commit
tee might call formal strike of all
telephone operators over wage de-
mands.
The strike would result in a "to-
tai collapse" of the Nations COM
munications system, and would dis
rupt radio stations and news printer
service, he said.
$4,000 Vote for Strike.
He disclosed that $4,000 members
of the federation in Missouri, Okla
homa, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas
has voted overwhelmingly" for
the walkout.
Mr.. Weaver said the union had
modified one phase of its compli-
Gated wage and benefit demands
but that the company had not al
tered its position.
"A satisfactory counterproposal
could settle the wage question" he
said.
Yesterdays conference was con-
Quoted in morning and afternoon
sessions with Secretary of Labor
Schwellenbach attending the pre-
liminary discussions.
Union Leaders Meet.
He retired in favor of Federal
Conciliators Howard T. Colvin and
j. r. Mandelbaum, who will preside
at today's talks.
Following last nights adjourn
ment the NFTW executive commit
tee met at the Annapolis Hotel to
outline today's conference strategy
Company efforts to cope with the
strike met with varied success
throughout the country yesterday
Company officials in Louisville, KY;
Nashville, Tenn; Jackson, Miss, and
Little Rock, Ark, followed an ex-
ample set in Atlanta, Ga, and OBJ
tanned court injunctions to restrain
1Coc 1TI7I E7pJONT pooo As1