Evening star., 1948-01-14
Cafeteria WorkersSee
GSI Suit as Providing
Settlement Formula

Members Of Local All, United
Cafeteria Workers of America, said
today q suit fled in District Court
by three Federal employees asking
appointment of a receiver for Gov
ernment Services, Inc, could provide
"a formula for settlement OF the
entire dispute" between the union
and GSI.
officials of GSI, operator Of AZ
Federal building cafeterias affected
by a strike that started 10 days ago,
regarded the court move as an effort
to "harass" the company. They de-
clared it would not affect the labor
controversy itself or the continued
operation of the cafeterias despite
the walkout.
The approximately 72,O00 persons
served yesterday was practically
normal for 40 cafeterias, a man
agement spokesman said. CafeteriaS
at the Labor Department and Su-
preme Court Building are still closed.
He reported that between 40 and SO
union members returned to work
yesterday, bringing to about 800 the
total of those returned since JAM
uary 5.
Accounting Of Funds Asked.
The District Court action was .
suit filed late yesterday by three
Federal employees asking for an in
junction, an accounting Of all funds
of the company and appointment OF
a receiver to take over and operate
all properties of GSI.
THE filing of this suit" union
spokesman said today, was not a
snap move. It was done after the
most careful consideration. We be-
lieve it offers formula for settle
ment of the entire dispute. The at
torneys will press for . prompt
hearing"
Evidence taken by a Senate Civil
Service Subcommittee last year into
GSI operations undoubtedly will be
used by attorneys who filed the suit
yesterday, union officials said.
Describing the filing Of the suit
as a desperation" move "instigated"
by the United Public Workers of
America, with which the cafeteria
workers union is affiliated, q GSI
official commented:
"The announcement Of the suit
by the union indicates it was insti-
gated by UPW officials as an attempt
to divert public attention from the
fact that the strike, called on a
political basis, has. been ineffective.
"The suit was filed not because
GSI has failed to provide service in
the cafeterias, but because GSI has
continued to provide good service
despite the strike"
Demonstration Planned.
The union, meanwhile, arranged
a mass picketing demonstration be-
tween 1880 and l pm. today at the
Federal Works Agency Building at
Eighteenth and F streets NV. They
also announced they had sent
formal request to Secretary of the
Treasury Snyder that he order
closing Of the cafeteria at the Bu-
reau of Engraving and Printing.
Plaintiffs in the District Court
suit are Roy M. Patterson, 6132
Twelfth street. north, Arlington,
Va, and Allen Searle, 1343 Saratoga
avenue NE, both employees of the
Labor Department, and Ralph Rus
sell, Is West Washington street,
Kensington, Md, an Interior De-
partment employe. They were
listed as acting individually and on
behalf of other persons similarly
situated" Their attorneys are David
Rein and Joseph Forer of the Wash
ington firm of Greenberg, Forer and
Rein.
Union officials said Local All as
we'll as the United Public Workers
of America, with which the cafe
terra workers union is affiliated, are
directly interested in the move,
Inadequate Service Charged.
The complaint charges that serv-
ice at the present time is inadequate
because Of "a labor dispute provoked
by GSI's illegal refusal to bargain
with the union" 1t also charges
that public space and equipment
have been monopolized by an ire
sponsible private organization" and
that the company "fulfills neither
its contract obligations nor the pub
lie obligations which flow from its
exclusive franchise"
"GSI is in effect a public utility
and enjoys the monopolistic priv
ileges of public community" the
complaint asserts. Nevertheless, 1t
acts with the complete freedom of
a commercial private enterprise to
the detriment of its patrons and Is
not held responsible for the per-
formance of the public obligations
arising from this favored status"
The complaint charges that GSI
failed ito maintain high standard
of cleanliness, order and efficient
service" Is not supplying meals at
reasonably low cost and is using its
funds for purposes not stipulated
in It's contract. II