Evening star., 1946-10-08
3 Other Unions Trying
To Take Over Rebels
In Pittsburgh Strike
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

PITTSBURGH, Oct. g. Three
other lnions-two AFL and one CIO
today were trying to take over the
segment of TOO "rebel" members who
are breaking away from the $500
member Independent Association of
Employees of the Duquesne Light Co.,
now in the 18th day of paralyzing
power strike.
The rival unions were the AFL-
United Mine Workers, District so;
the AFL-International Brotherhood
Of Electrical Workers and the CIO-
Utility Workers Union.
All Of these, along with the in
dependent association, want their
names on the collective bargaining
election ballot, il and when the
National Labor Relations Board
decides an election Is necessary.
NLRB Ruling Expected Today.
The rebellion in the ranks of the
independent union broke out nearly
week ago when spokesmen for the
TOO said they were dissatisfied with
the leadership of George L. Mueller,
president Of the independent union,
and proposed an organization of
their own.
Unoficially, 1t was reported that
the NLRB expected to rule some
time today on whether an election to
decide between the various unions
was needed.
Meanwhile. the strike itself ap-
peared tied into a tighter knot than
ever.
Duquesne Light Co. negotiators
last night rejected a second new
offer from the union calling 1t "a
mere reshufling of proposals made
in the last Offer"
The company said the union offer
was merely a resubmission of the II
major proposals in itS last offer,
with the added promise to arbitrate
the remaining Is points of dispute
if they could not be negotiated with
in 80 days. q
Mediators Arrange Meetings.
IF they will arbitrate some de-
mands, why can't they arbitrate all
of them and get the service back to
the people?" asked Pressly H. Nc
Canoe, light company president.
1--WE urged arbitration on Septem-
Der 4 as the only possible method of
settling this dispute and We con-
tinue to urge it"
"It's just stalemated," Mr.. Mueller
declared. 1--WE wanted to settle IL
points now and negotiate or arbi-
trate the others but the company
will only talk complete arbitration"
Federal mediators have arranged
separate meetings with the company
and management negotiators today
The power strikers seek 20 per
cent increase which would boost pay
from $1.18 to- $141 an hour, and
other benefits. The company has
offered per cent raise.
Compared to Mukden.
In New York, the magazine Steel
described Pittsburgh as ''desolate,
defenseless and despondent," and
said it was in a state of near
anarchy.
1.-THE city most closely resembling
Pittsburgh in its present predica-
ment is Mukden, Manchuria," the
publication said in an editorial.
Mayor David L. Lawrence, COM
menting on the editorial declared:
1--WE are taking an economic beat
ing. But we are certainly nowhere
near anarchy
Enough power is coming through
for our essential needs. The health
and safety of the community have
been protected. The streets, homes
and hospitals are safe. The water
supply is holding.
II am sure that no one here Is
Respondent We are going to fight
this thing through to a permanent
solution which will protect the
future Of Pittsburgh"
William B. McFall, president of
the Chamber of Commerce, said in
answer to the editorial, THE facts
are most of the steel mills are run
ming half-time and some of them as
much as 80 per cent. While we are
very much inconvenienced, we are
carrying on and will continue to
carry on. The spirit of the citizenry
iS fno -