Evening star., 1947-04-30
$4,000 Strikers
Return 10 Work
In Bell System
Roises Roneing From
s. to So Gronted in
NewYork, Philadelphia

Settlement of strikes inyolv-
ing Bell System companies in
New York City and Pennsylvania
augured well today for a break
in the 24-day national telephone
stoppage.
In Philadelphia, Government con-
cillators announced that 5000
maintenance employees were return
ing to work with weekly raises OF So
and 81 The New. York agreement.
sending $1,000 employees back to
their jobs, provided for $4 across
the-board Increase.
AS four meetings involving key
American Telephone & Telegraph
co. subsidiaries and unions con-
tlnued in Washington today, con-
ciiiators were encouraged by the
best wage offer yet made by a Bell
company.
One official involved in the Phil
adelphia settlement said it might
set pattern for a national settle
ment, but here Carlton w. Werkau.
strike leader for the National Fed
eratiop of Telephone Workers, in
sisted the 80 member unions were
sticking by their demand for Sc
a week.
Rejected as Yardstick Here.
Frank J. Fitzsimmons, president
of the Western Electric EMPLOYEES
Association, which was reported
making progress in negotiations
here, said, There will be no settle
ment under Sc as far as we are con-
cerned. Telephone workers can't
live on 50 and 81 increases when the
rest OF the country is getting S."
G. & P. officials here also rejected
the settlements as yardstick for
ending the District strike.
Our rates are regulated in the
District of Columbia and our wages
have always been established by
local comparison with wages paid
by other businesses in this COM
munity," said j. 3. Morrison, vice
president and general manager of
the company.
Mr.. Morrison said 165 additional
employees returned today bringing
to 1,125 the number of plant en-
ployes now on the job.
Conciliator E. T Bell, who saw the
28th meeting between the Chesa-
peake & Potomac Telephone Co. and
the District Federation of Telephone
Workers end in failure last night,
said he would call the disputants
together again if conditions war;
ranted.
Since none of the Eastern unions
was affiliated with the NFTW they
were able to close agreements with
out approval Of the national organi-
zation's Policy Committee.
First Asked S12 a Week.
While four independent unions
were involved in the New York set
tlement, five others embracing $1,000
workers and affiliated with. NFTW
remained on strike. A president Of
one of the striking locals said she
expected the independent workers
to respect their picket lines.
The Federation of Telephone
Workers of Pennsylvania, like the
NFTW, had demanded $12 week
increase originally and, like the ma
tional federation, had trimmed that
figure in half before striking last
Friday.
Signed after nearly II consecutive
hours of deliberation, the Philadel-
phia settlement provided for in
creases of SO weekly for workers
earning less than $5l weekly and 81
for those making $51 or more.
Both union and Pennsylvania
Bell Telephone Co. officials said
they regarded the settlement as
strictly Pennsylvania matter" In
addition to the pay increase, the
union was granted a 10 per cent
night differential for work between
S pm. and am. and an extra day
off if a holiday comes when q
worker Is on vacation.
Henry Mayer, counsel for some
NFTW unions, said of the New York
settlement: "It was below the ma
tionwide pattern and the fight for
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