Evening star., 1947-10-07
Night Pay Rates
Become Issue al
Transit Heariinq
Company Opposes
Union Interpretation
Of Its Demands

OF Its Demands
A new issue developed today be-
'ore the Capital Transit Co. Wage
Arbitration Board over a union mod
fication of its demands for a night
rate differential for employees whose
periods of work run into the night
hift.
Hawley w. Simpson, labor attor-
ley for the company, charged that
union Interpretation of its night
ate demands was, in part, a depart
Ire from the arbitration stipulation
and beyond the boards Jurisdiction.
Dr.. George w. Taylor, board
withheld ruling pending
further argument and consultation
with the other board members, o.
David Zimring, labor representative,
and Edmund L. Jones, the company's
general counsel.
First Demands Cited.
The Amalgamated Association of
Street, Electric Railway and Motor
Coach Employees in the beginning
had included in it's demands, in
addition to a fiat IS per cent wage
boost, call for cents an hour
extra for all work after pm. and
10 cents extra for all work beyond
midnight.
Mr.. Simpson repeatedly has in
sisted on more specific outline Of
these "collateral' requests.
After extended discussion, Eli
Oliver, union counsel, said the union
wanted the scent differential to
apply to the whole period worked
on all runs, parts of runs, pieces Of
work or shifts finishing after 7 pm.
Counsel Questioned.
Questioning by Mr.. Simpson
brought out that he meant the
union was insisting that the higher
rate apply to the entire days work
of the man whose work period ex-
tended for any length of time be-
yond 7 pm.
This part of his outline brought
the company protest that it was
mot modification, but an extern
sion" of the unions demand stipu-
lation.
The company. however. accepted
as proper modification Mr. divers
statement that as to swing runs"
of CTC vehicles, the night rate diff
ferential would apply only to that
portion of time worked after pm.
At the request of Mr.. Zimring.
Chairman Taylor directed the COM
pany to prepare data showing how
many men would be affected by the
night differential with 6, 7 and 8
pm. as the effective hour.
Calculations Submitted.
The company earlier had submit
ted calculations to show the original
night differential demands of the
union would cost the company $780,
240, in addition to the costs of other
union requests.
The hearings were recessed shortly
after noon until next Tuesday Com
pany officials are going to Philadel-
phia to attend a conventions of the
American Transit Association
The total cost of new buses and
streetcars and other pending capital
improvements, totaling more than
$10,000,000, and the present low
dividend rate make a IS per cent
wage increase impossible. a company
official contended yesterday
Moreover, a further increase in
fares would have to be sought by the
company if anything approaching
the wage demands of the employees
union were granted, J. Edward
Heberle, vice president, told the
board.
100 New Buses Ordered.
Mr. Heberle told the board the
company has ordered 100 new buses
at cost of 81, 735 900 and an addi-
tional 100 buses for next year, at a
cost that high or higher. At the
same time, he said, it Is obligating
itself for the purchase of so more
new streetcars for 1948 at a cost Of
$l,250,000.
In addition to these improvements,
he said the provision for a new shops
building, at an estimated cost Of
more than 100000 had been too
long delayed" He added the COM
pany also is planning the substitute
ton of buses for the Rosslyn-Ben-
ming streetcars, which would entail
an-initial cost of about 100000.
Wage Costs Estimated.
In addition, he pointed out that
under the present low dividend rate,
the firm could not continue to exist.
Unless the dividend rises, he said,
the investing public will no longer
continue to provide the necessary
funds.
The company said the wage and
other benefits sought by the ANAL
gamated Association of Street, Elec-
trio Railway and Motor Coach EN-
ployes would cost total of $8,003 ,003.
For wages alone, it said, the cost
would be $130,0o0 for each cent of
wage rate increase.