Evening star., 1949-10-23
Part-TimeW Work
tirsDispute at
Transit Hearing
Union Demands End
Of Hiring Practice; i,
Firm Denies Charge

"A union demand InaC the Capt.
tai Transit Co. stop hiring Gov
eminent workers and others as
part-time street car and bus op-
orators provoked a vigorous dis
pute yesterday before the arbitra-
ton board.
The f1ve-man board has been
holding hearings on the company
union differences over a new con-
tract. The union is asking a 25-
cent-an-hour pay increase and
other benefits. The hearings ad-
journed yesterday afternoon until
November 2.
The part-time worker subject
came up when E. L. Oliver, who is
presenting the union case, came
to its request for a new section in
the proposed contract which would
read: "All outside part-time en-
ployes shall become full-time en-
ployes or be dropped from the
payroll "
Company Denies Charge.
William F. Simms, union presi-
dent. said his organization tried
to get the part-time workers elm
mated in an arbitration in 1947,
but failed. Mr.. Oliver said the
union was given assurance at that
time that the company would
move toward the extinction of this
practice.
This was Immediately and
vigorously denied by the company.
Mr.. Oliver characterized the prac-
tice as serious abuse" and said
1t is not permitted in contracts
other transit companies have with
their employees.
Mr.. Simms said the practice
started in World War and was
adopted again during World War
II. He said that in 1947 there were
about 81 such employees but the
number has increased to about
125.
The company's full reply to the
unions contention will not be
given until it presents its case
later. A company spokesman,
however. put the number of such
employees at about 90, including
two OF the nine women operators.
Mr.. Simms said that at one time
policemen worked part time as
transit operators, but the Police
Department stopped this.
He said the part-time workers
take work from the regular en-
ployes and said he believed that
If there is any overtime work it
should be given to the regulars.
Hawley Simpson, representing the
company in the arbitration said
the company wants, to continue
hiring part-time workers. He con-
ceded the practices deprives reg
ulars Of overtime pay.
Mr.. Oliver contended that the
purpose OF overtime payments is
to discourage long hours. He said
that this end is not being attained
If a man works eight hours at
his regular job and then works
for Capital Transit additional
hours without overtime payments.
Holiday Plea Presented.
Samuel E. Emmons, company
general manager, said some part
time workers have no other Job.
He said also the number includes
some students who are former en-
ployes now going to school under
the CT bill.
The union completed its presen-
tation to support its plea for eight
holidays a year with pay for all
employees and double pay If a man
has to work on those days. An
exhibit - one of about 40 pre-
sented so far was introduced
which showed that the Potomac
Electric Power Co., the Washing
ton Gas Light Co., and the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Co.
allow eight holidays with pay.
The days are Washington's
Birthday. Decoration, Indepen-
dence, Armistice and Labor Days,
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years Day. Pepco and the tele-
phone company also allow In
auguration Day as a paid holiday
everv foI1r vaors