Evening star., 1950-01-24
Mediator Seeks
oEase Threat
OF PhoneStr
Talks With Beirne;
6. & P. AssuiIs Plan
For Wire Jummina

For Wire Jumming
The Government moved into the
darkening telephone picture to-
day on the heels of a union threat
to jam the Nations lines.
William N. Margolis, associate
director of the Federal Mediation
and Cancellation Service, talked
extensively by telephone with
Joseph A. Beirne, president of the
CIO Communications Workers of
America. who yesterday said a
Nationwide strike appeared un-
avoidable.
Mr.. Beirne is attending a union
meeting in Cincinnati. Mr.. Mar
golis said further exploration was
necessary to determine whether
he would attempt to bring the dis
putting parties together in a high
level conference. He expected to
talk with a company official later
today.
Mr.. Beirne revealed new union
strategy yesterday in a letter to
Philip Murray. CIO president,
asking full cooperation of the
100000 CIO members and the
public in helping to break down
the telephone system in case of
a strike.
Will Seek to Speed Breakdowns.
"We want the public to use the
telephone as much as possible so
that unattended equipment will
mechanical trouble more
speedily than when we are there
to maintain it," Mr.. Beirne said.
"We advise full and complete
use of telephones during the
strike. We even advise over-use
of the telephone"
c. H. Johnson, vice president
and general manager of the
Chesapeake g. Potomac Telephone
Co., sharply criticized the action.
Contract negotiations between
this company and the unions rep
resenting it's employees have not
started and are not scheduled to
start until February" he said.
"Yet, Mr.. Beirne again brandishes
the strike weapon over our heads.
''In effect, Mr.. Beirne is calling
on the public to attempt to cripple
its telephone system. The action
suggested in Mr.. Beirne's state
ment clearly indicates that the
union leadership utterly disre-
CARDS its responsibility for main
tanning service so vital to the
public health and safety"
Mr.. johnson said that despite
the irresponsible and infiamma-
tory statements. this company
will, as in the past. bargain in
good faith with the local unions
in forthcoming contract negotia-
tions."
In its aggressive strategy. call
ing for each division to take a
membership strike vote before
opening negotiations, the CWA
now has 100000 members poised
to strike Bell System companies
over the Nation, and figures an
other 100000 will be ready to
walk out in a mass movement
late next month.
Wage Goal Is Unannounced.
The union is seeking wage in
creases, a 35-hour week and pen
sion revisions. 1t has set no def
mite wage goal, but a union Off
cial recently said Is cents would
be necessary to return the indus
try to its former high position.
Mr.. Beirne said he had pro-
posed arbitration in several bar
gaining conferences, but that the
company had rejected this form of
settlement.
It apeared likely that both the
Washington divisions will go into
bargaining February / without q
strike edict from the membership.
Thomas G.. Archer, vice presi-
dent of Division SO, said the $500
accounting, commercial and plant
employees he represents will hold
a general membership meeting
February 7 at which time the vote
undoubtedly will be discussed.
Picket Help Is Asked.
AS to the plan to overwork tele-
phones in case of a strike, Mr..
Archer said that, too, probably
will be discussed. He said the
membership was aware that the
1947 strike lasted as long as six
weeks because the telephone COM
pany was able to keep service
intact.
1t is q fact that a sufficient
number of telephone calls at a
given time will cause mechanical
difficulties In an exchange, he
said. Even such small Offices
as. a PIX board would require
the dispatching of a man to cor
rect the trouble, he said.
Washington's other local, Divi-
sion, so, has no immediate plans
to take a strike vote. That divi-
sion is made up of $500 oper-
atorS.
Citing the company's strike
breaking policies" Mr.. Beirne
asked for help on the picket lines
and other assistance in conduct
ing a strike.
Government officials said they
knew of nothing in the Taft
Hartley law or in the Commune
cations Act that would bar the
union from an attempt to jam
the telephones.
Senafa ('0nfirme MnIInhar,