Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-04-21
New U. 5. Moves Seen
As Telephone Strike
Enters Third Week

New moves by the Labor De-
|partment were indicated today
in connection with the coast-to-
coast telephone strike which for
two weeks has defied every set
Element attempt.
Facing their third payless week,
strikers extracted hope of ultimate
victory from the trend In big indus
try to give workers a 15-cent average
hourly increase.
Thus far the telephone industry
has resisted demands by the Nation
al Federation of Telephone Workers
and suggestions by the United
States Cancellation Service to offer
a down payment" wage increase
that might open the door to arbitra-
ton.
The union just as adamantly has
declined company suggestion for
arbitration of basic wages on a
company by company level. Such
arbitration would range from fiat
nothing to s12 demanded by the
union.
Steel Increase Cited.
Recalling the arguments of some
Bell companies for extending pres
ent contracts until other industries
set wage pattern, union officials
took stock of the 15-cent overall
increase awarded yesterday by
United States Steel.
NFTW President Joseph A. Beirne
said ut looks like everybody in the
United States must get raise be-
fore the company gives us one" He
insisted the pattern" already has
been set and "the company hasn't
any argument left unless it Is out to
break the union"
Second only to what new man.
euver the Labor Department might
spring, was the Importance of a
back-to-work movement reported by
Bell System companies and denied
by the union.
Scattered reports from over the
country told of some telephone
workers DESERVING the strike ranks,
but the union said this was only
a trickle and not break through.
Return Of liz Reported.
J. B. Morrison, vice president and
general manager of the Chesapeake
& Potomac Telephone Co., reported
that 172 additional nonsupervisory
employees reported to work this
morning, bringing the total to 756.
Of the total of newly returned
employees, six were operators, 81
plant maintenance men, % other
plant workers, Is commercial de-
partment, accounting department
and Sc other commercial employees,
the company said.
Raymond B. Lunceford, District
strike director, called the COM
pany's figures exaggerated.
Il personally watched at I'LL
North Capitol street this morning,
where the company expected the
biggest return of workers, and saw
very few crossing the picket lines"
he said. Some company mainte-
nance and other plant workers have
headquarters at the building.
Picket Lines Enlarged.
District unions enlarged their
picket lines for an hour this
morning and were to hold meetings
at Turner's Arena throughout the
day to demonstrate their determine
ton to carry on.
Edgar L. Warren. Cancellation
Service director. said he had talked
to company officials about wage
offer. 5~
'They tell us the wage increases
recently given in other industries do
not affect them right now" he said
They say these increases have not
as yet affected the market price for
labor and they cannot raise tele-
phone wages for the time being"
The American Telephone & Tele-
graph Co. has said it's position is
different from other industries since
it must depend on Government rate
fixing bodies for the amount of
revenue it can receive. Bell COM
panies have insisted that full ac-
ceptance of union demands would
cost more than last years profits.
Expected union support from 5000
Pennsylvania maintenance workers
failed to develop today when strike
called for 7:30 am. was Cancelled.
William S. Leary of Philadelphia,
union president, said the strike was
called off because ajority of Is
local presidents dissented. The
union is not affiliated with NFTW.