Evening star., 1950-02-20
Mediators Awaiting
Progress Reports
In Phone Dispute

Federal mediators awaited prog
ress reports today from both
sides in the telephone controversy
but indicated no major advance
toward preventing a Nationwide
strike set for Friday.
Heads of the Communications
Workers of America, CIO, includ-
ing President Joseph A. Beirne
were in Memphis, Tenn, for a
flve-day convention of the long
lines" division. That division
handles the Bell Systems long
distance network. 1t is not eligi-
BILE to strike until March 2, but its
officers announced it would OBJ
serve picket lines if other divisions
strike February "a.
Negotiations between CWA and
the American Telephone and Tel
egraph Co. were recessed in New
York last Wednesday. Bargaining
talks between the Chesapeake g.
Potomac Telephone Co. and the
two Washington divisions were to
resume at 2 pm. today.
CAP Outlines Policy.
H. Randolph Maddox. Cap
president, today notified Cyrus
Ching, director of the Federal
Mediation Service. that the COM
pany will continue to bargain in
good faith. He called attention
to the fact that under the con-
tracts, if no change in basic week.
ly wages is agreed on by March 2,
the contracts with existing wage
rates continue in effect subject to
termination by either party on
so days notice. The termination
clause would not be prior to May
II for Division so and May 81
for Division 36.
Division 36, made up of $500
plant, commercial and account
ing employees. and Division So,
consisting of 2,400 telephone oper-
ators, repeatedly asked for a IS
cent package increase" Com
pany officials have been studying
the demand over the week end.
They declared last week that any
wage increase would force the
company to seek another tele-
phone rate increase, in addition
to the request now before the
Public Utilities Commission.
In a further effort to avert a
threatened Nationwide strike of
more than 100000 workers next
Friday, and a possible walkout of
another 10000 CWA members
early next month. Mr.. Ching
hoped to receive detailed reports
today from union and manage
ment.
Another Session Arranged.
Those reports from all along
the line" Mr.. Ching's Office hopes,
will present a clear picture of
the status of bargaining to date
and provide further leads toward
possible settlement before the
Friday deadline.
Mr.. Ching also arranged a bar
gaining session here tomorrow
between Western Electric officials
and the unions that work for the
installation and sales divisions Of
the company. r.
But the picture over the week
end seemed far from settled. The
AT&T stated there was no basis
for a disagreement with the union
now that Mr.. Beirne has said
there would be an area of agree
ment" if Bell companies gave
wage increases in dine with in
creases in living costs.
Wages Up 102 Per Cent.
mo matter how you examine
the facts" a company spokesman
said, telephone wages have gone
up more than the cost of living.
During the 10-year period, &C
cording to the Bureau of Labor
statistics. the cost of living has
gone up SO per cent. In the same
period telephone wages have gone
up an average of 102 per cent.
THE facts show that telephone
people are getting more than Mr..
Beirne said would provide an area
of agreement.
That brought an immediate
challenge today from A. T. Jones,
CWA vice president, who said he
was carrying the ball" here
while Mr.. Beirne is in Memphis.
"It's the same sort of poppycock
that the company has been put
ting out in newspaper ads" he
said.
Company Statement Attacked.
Glenn E. Watts, president Of
Division 36 here, also attacked
the company's claims that wage
increases for telephone workers
have kept pace with increases in
the cost of living since 1899.
The company contended that
wages of a large group of Division
36 members employed since 1899
have increased 81 per cent during
the last 10 years, Mr.. Watts said.
The union official declared that
most Of those workers were at
the beginner wage rate in 1899.
Those people did not get gen.
eral wage increases in line with
increases in the cost of living, "
he explained. They got only