Evening star., 1949-06-19
Electric Strike
Postponed in
Area
Both Sides Agree
To Further Tulks on
Cooperative Pact

A strike scheduled for 1901
IN. tomorrow by approximately
10 outside" employees OF the
Southern Maryland Electric CO.
operative. Inc. was postponed
yesterday for further negotiations.
The walkout. which would have
affected nearly 10000 consumers
in four Southern Maryland coun-
ties. was called of after q con-
ference In Baltimore between un-
ion ofYicials. representatives Of
the cooperative and Maryland
Labor Commissioner Joseph r.
Di Domenico.
The co operative maintains
transmission and distribution lines
in Prince Georges. Charles. St.
Marys and Calvert Counties.
The strike by linemen, ground
men, meter readers and mainte-
nance workers had been called by
Local 20 of the AFL International
Brotherhood Of Electrical Work
ers. The union has its headQuar-
ters in Washington and embraces
Maryland and the northern part
Of Virginia. as wen as the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Union Certified Oct. 8.
Negotiations for an initial con-
tract between the union and
the cooperative have been in
progress since the union was GER
titled last October by the Ma
tionai Labor Relations Board aft
er q directed election among en-
ployes Of the utility.
J. Edward Burroughs Of WASH
ington. attorney for the co-op-
erative. said yesterday that Mr..
DiDomenico suggested an arbitra-
ton board be set up to continue
the negotiations. He said the CO.
operative would consider this sug-
jgestion.
Charles M. Quinn of Hyatts-
vile. business manager for the
local. said the cooperative must
decide on this by June 30 when
union officials will meet again
with representatives Of the utility.
II no agreement is reached by
that time, they will meet again
with Mr.. DiDomenico the next
day. he said.
New Strike Order Hinted.
The union official said another
strike order may be given at that
time unless an agreement is
reached.
The union demands o union
shop, Is per cent salary increases
for employees. and night dif1eren-
tial pay. Mr.. Quinn said.
MIR. Burroughs saidit would cost
the cooperative about $40 900 to
meet these demands and would re-
suit in petition for another rate
increase. He pointed out the CON-
pany gave its employees a is per
cent salary raise last August /.
and that 1t subsequently received
permission to increast its rates at
that time.
The cooperative has made no
offers Of O pay raise this time,
Mr.. Burroughs said.
Board Would Arbitrate Issue.
Under Maryland labor laws. a
three-member board would arbi-
trate the issue. The board would
consist of one representative each
Of the union and the cooperative
as well as q neutral" member.
Mr.. Quinn said the strike was
called of at the request of Mr..
DiDomenico for the purpose of
having directors of the co-opera-
tive act on the request of the
commissioner to allow the whole
subject matter to go to arbitra-
ton"
Mr.. Burroughs said the strike
would affect all electric power,
both commercial and private, in
the area served by the co-opera-
tive. While it would not eliminate
service entirely. the strike would
place it on q limited basis with
the possibility of even less serv-
ice in case Of bad weather, the
/ iCO.ODeratiye'S attorney xaid