Evening star., 1950-04-30
Phone InstaIIers
Reported Ready
For Picketing
lone-Distonce Coils
Moy Be Tied Up if
Operators Stoy Awoy

An attorney for 10000 strikins
telephone equipment inStallers
said last night they will picket
telephone exchanges throughout
the Nation tomorrow. but other
union sources questioned whether
the move will be sanctioned.
The unsettled situation was con-
sidered. at best. threat OF tenn
porary disruption of telephone
service in some areas, particularly
in long distance calls.
Washington representatives OF
striking Division s. Communica-
tions Workers of America. said
they had not been officially ad-
vised, but predicted that $50 idle
installers here will picket. orders
or not, If the week-old strike still
is in progress tomorrow.
Early Settlement Seen.
This spokesman said he be-
lieved, however. that a strike set
tlement may be reached before
tomorrow. The installers struck at
Western Electric Co. offlces in -
States last Monday because of q
grievance against working condi-
tions at South Bend. Ind.
Nearly 5000 employees of Is
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co. offices here are committed to
respect legitimate picket lines
thrown up by any unit of the
CWA. which which they are af-
filiated.
Informed union sources dis
closed that the CWA Executive
Board has not authorized picket
lines by the installers. Without
this sanction, other CWA mem
bers would not be expected to OBJ
serve the lines and stay of the
job.
Confused Situation Likely.
Glenn E. Watts. president of
Division 36's 2.4oo craft and COM
mercial members, said the group
will be expected to honor picket
lines until they are declared un-
authorized. This might mean q
confused work situation tomor-
row morning, II the installers
carry out their picketing threat.
Mrs. Eleanor Jane Palmer.
president Of Division so, which
has about 1900 telephone oper-
ators. said her unit would observe
only legal" picket line.
Authority for the picketing de-
cision was Henry Mayer, New
York counsel for the striking in
stallers. His statement was given
out almost simultaneously with
announcement in Omaha. Nebr.,
OF the first agreement in the long
impasse between the CWA and IS
subsidiaries of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Co.
Hope for Setting Pattern"
This agreement had no direct
bearing on New York negotiations
between the installers and West
ern Electric. but 1t gave some hope
OF setting a "pattern" which may
clear up disputes here and else
where.
Clyde M. Mills, special assistant
to Chief Conciliator Cyrus 8.
Ching, was in touch with the New
York negotiations through Con-
ciliation Commissioner Thomas r.
Steutel.
The installer - Western Elec-
trio negotiations were known to
be snagged on a new Job classi-
f1cation proposal suggested by the
company. The company had
proposed a higher rating for ex-
perienced men engaged in test
ing and verifying equipment.
But the union replied that it
was not interested In breaking its
work down into classifications.
Mr.. Mayer said both he and
company representatives had
agreed to stand by all night" for
any suggestion that might lead to
a settlement. Herbert Porter. WE
spokesman. had no comment on
the picketing plans.
The Omaha settlement affected
$4,000 employees OF the Northwest
Bell Telephone Co. in Iowa, Me-
braska, Minnesota and the Dak-
otas. The agreement followed
closely the demands last asked
fSee PHONES, Page AID