Evening star., 1947-12-22
Fact-Finding Accord
Delays Western Union
Tieup al Least 50 Days
BY the Assoeiafad Prass

BY the Assoeietsd Press
A pre- Christmas strike of
Western Union workers was
averted today by shifting major
differences between the COM
pany and three AF'L unions to a
fact-finding board for decision
in so days.
The action delays the threat of
Nationwide telegraph tieup at
least until after February 9-about,
the time telephone workers plan to
begin wage talks with the Bell
Telephone companies all over the
country.
The two groups of communica-
tions workers were poised to strike
simultaneously last spring, but the
telegraph workers settled for s.
cent hourly pay increase on the
eve of the scheduled tieup. The
telephone strike lasted five weeks.
The renewed Western Union dis
pute arose over union demands for
a 15-cent-an-hou wage increase.
llS ~hlhOuL AL VIC cCb W bCS1lA
at am. tomorrow, but the unions
later threatened to call the tele-
graphers out on less notice.
Ching to Name Fact Finders.
However. day-long conferences
with Federal Cancellation Director
Cyrus C. Ching finally resulted in
an agreement last night to cancel the
strike call.
A three-man. fact-finding panel
to be chosen by Mr.. Ching will de-
eide two main issues which the con-
cihation chiefs said had "impeded"
settlement.
They are:
l. Whether the contract, which
was signed last April l could be
opened for a new wage demand
October 1.-The date the union
picked-or November /. On this
will depend how much back pay
the workers will get out of any wage
increase finally negotiated.
2. What is meant in the current
contract by a provision calling for
a study of the "wage-profit" rela-
tionship in connection with any
new pay demand. The union says
the whole profit picture for 1947
was to be considered; the company
insisted that only conditions exist
ing on the date the contract was
opened should be considered. The
union contends the company will
have made s12,0O0,0O0 profits in
1947. A factor in that dispute is
a company claim that it got non
recurring windfall OF s5,000000 in
business as a result of last springs
telephone strike.
To Study Two Points Only.
The panel will make final and
binding decision on these two
points only. 1t will make no rec
ommendation concerning the basic
wage dispute.
That will be left to new negotia-
tions after the fact-fnding report
is issued. The union has claimed
its members pay averages 96.7 cents
an hour. The company said the
figure is 1924.
Mr.. Ching left a sick bed to take
on personal supervision of the
peace-making. Adolph Brungs,
speaking for the unions, credited the
conciliator with "averting paralyz-
ing strike of the Western Union
system"
Mr.. Brungs, president of the West
Nff h>
mercial Telegraphers' Union, said
the union considered the solution
IAN impressive victory"
This is what the union agreed to
accept at the reuest of the Con-
citation Service early in November
and the victory was achieved only
because Of the determination of the
employees to get living wage"
Brungs said.
I'VE are determined that the
company will negotiate with the
union in good faith on the basis
Of findings of fact by this board"
Company Issues Statement.
After the agreement was an
nounced, T. F. McMains. vice presi-
dent of the company, said in state
ment:
Conscious of It's service obliga-
tions to the public as well as its
obligations to its employees and its
owners, the company has agreed to
this proposal The proposal spe-
cifically excludes from considera-
ton of the fact the fact-flnding
board the dispute as to what. If any,
wage increase should be granted.
It leaves that issue to further COL
lective bargaining following the
boards determination Of the factors
involved"
Worker mass meetings in various
cities yesterday brought sheafs OF
kilograms to the union negotiators
pledglng support in the walkout.
The three unions involved are
the Commercial Telegraphers Union,
the Telegraph Employees Union at
Atlanta, and Telegraph Workers
Union of Dallas.
Their $4,000 workers in 5000
Western Union Offices voted over
whelminely for the strike.
Beirne Plans Pay Demand.
While Mr.. Ching was meeting with
the opposing parties yesterday,
Joseph A. Beirne, president of the
independent Communications Work
ers of America, announced that his
union will seek pay raises for $780,
900 telephone workers as their con-
tract come up for renewal next
spring.
plans for the annroachinp tele-