Evening star., 1947-04-28
Iowa Phone Strikers
Reject Company Offer
OF $50 Pay Raise

prospects lOr uVc-SL6Ce
Northwestern union accepting a
$3.50 wage offer in the telephone
dispute suffered a setback today
when the Iowa directorate voted
against the proposal.
At the same time. the Chesapeake
81 Potomac Telephone Co. an
nounced that the offer viii have no
effect on its dispute with local
unions, thus debating hopes that al
wage pattern" might be forming.
But in Pittsburgh, Joseph A..
Beirne, president of the National
Federation Of Telephone Workers,
said he expected a major break in
the situation. possibly today or to-.
morrow" He flew to Pittsburgh to
address the Strikers.
Mr.. Beirne will 60 on the radio
at 1918 tonight over VOL and the
Mutual Broadcasting Co. to discuss
the strike issues.
National Strike Director Carlton
w. Werkau said here that the Iowa
unit represented only one-fifth Of
the Northwestern Federation OF
Telephone Workers voting author
ity, and that poll OF the other four
segments would be necessary before
the final outcome is known.
Pay Offer Announced.
First offer of any Bell System
company, the cash proposal was an
|nounced by Gov. Luther w. Young
dahl of Minnesota as coming from
the Northwestern Bell Telephone
Co. The union said it would give
Mr.. Youngdahl its answer late
today.
AS the strike went into its fourth
week, observers had hoped accept
ance of the offer might lead to a
general release Of such overtures by
the more than 20 Bel System CON-
panies involved In the national
walkout.
In Des Moines, Iowa, A. r. Toep-
fer, secretary of the Northwestern
union, said the group considered $6
the lowest offer it would accept at
present.
Wages Main Issue.
Union leaders have predicted a
quick resolution of other issues If
the companies would come through
with wage offer.
Although it has been the prac-
tice of the NFTW to submit settle
ment proposals to its Policy Com
mittee, Mr.. Beirne significantly re-
minded reporters that each of the
49 afficiated unions is autonomous
and can settle a. dispute on its own.
The Policy Committee scheduled
a 2 pm. meeting, however, to pass
on the Northwest proposal if it is
presented to that body. The COM
mittee has sanctioned contracts with
independent companies for several
small unions since the strike beCan.
Board Has Authority.
The Northwestern unions eight
man general board had authority to
accept or reject the offer, but de-
cided to submit 1t to the state boards
Of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and
the Dakotas.
Asserting that company wages
here are based on the local COM
munity pattern, j. B. Morrison, vice
president and general manager of
the C. & p, said "it is obvious that
any wage adjustments in other parts
of the country cannot be used as
a basis for similar action by this
company"
Mr.. Morrison called on the Dis
trict unions to accept its offer of
local arbitration of some issues in
volved. %s@
1878 Strikers Return.
Mr.. Morrison disclosed that 261
strikers returned to work here this
morning, bringing to 1,273 the num-
ber returning since the strike began.
He said Al per cent of the bar
gained-for" employees in the Metro
politan Area were on the job, but
Helery Robinson, president of the
District Federation of Telephone
Workers, said the company figures
were exaggerated.
The top question to be answered
in negotiations here was whether
the telephone industry had negated
its policy against wage increases in
view of other industry raises, and
was ready to make offers on local
basis.
Unions Reject Wage Pattern"
Union officials here said the $3.50
increase, even If accepted, not nee
essarily would set a pattern for 9TH
er settlements. However, in st.
Paul, where he attended the gov
ernor's conference, Union Counsel
Henry Mayer predicted the nation
wide strike would end If the offer
was accepted.
Impartial Government observers
felt the ultimate settlement figure
would average between So and $6 a
week.
Although no. wage offers were
made during five hours of discus
sions yesterday in the American
Telephone g. Telegraph Co.'S long