Evening star., 1950-05-31
Negotiations Resumed
To Avert Power Strike
On Eastern Shore
By the ASsocioted Press

SALISBURY. Md, May 3l.-Ne-
gotiations were resumed today in
an effort to head off a strike of
union workers of the Eastern
Shore Public Service Co.
A walkout scheduled for mid
night would affect large part of
the Del-Mra-Va peninsula. The
company said it hopes to maintain
service.
j. c. Mcintosh, international
representative of the AFL Inter-
national Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. had said last night that
negotiations for new contract to
replace the one expiring at mid
night had broken down.
Talks Resume at 10.
However. a company Spokes-
man said negotiations were re-
sumed this morning at 10 am
There was no immediate indica-
ton Of the basis for resumption
of the talks.
A negotiating committee repre-
senting the 500 company workers
Of the union local issued a state
ment to "our friends and neigh
bors Oh the Eastern Shore" say
ing:
I'VE regret very much to inform
you that we intend to cease work
on the properties Of the Eastern
Shore Public Service Co. when
our current contract expires at
midnight, May 81"
Would Affect 13 Counties.
Such a work stoppage would
affect the nine counties of the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, Ac-
comack and Northampton Coun-
ties of Virginia and two Delaware
counties.
The company said it may issue
a statement OF its own during the
day.
The IBEW notice said that I'VE
are aware of the inconveniences
and hardShips that will befall you
in the event that there is a failure
OF electric power. .:
"We have offered to work with
out compensation for the dura-
tion Of the strike and do our best
to maintain service to hospitals
newspapers, telephone company
and radio stations. provided the
company will strip other con-
sumers from their lines"
2 Hospitals Totally Dependent.
At least two Maryland hospital.
are totally dependent on the East.
ern Shore Public Service Co. fol-
their electric power.
They are the Cambridge Hos.
pital, Inc. and McCready Memo.
rial Hospital at Crisfield.
r. B. Andrews, administrator ol
the 82-bed Cambridge institution
said his staff would be, helpleS.
without the utility supply. A shut.
down would prevent emergency
operations. affect oxygen supplies
and cut off sterilizing equipment
A similar situation would exist
at McCready, officials said. This
hospital has 80 beds.
The large Peninsular Hospital
at Salisbury is equipped with gen.
orators it could use in an emer-
gency, Supt. Brady Rayton said
c. r. Kerr. administrator OF
Easton Memorial Hospital. said
his institution has its own gen.
orators and would not be affected
Mr.. Mcintosh said the utility
offered a Accent hourly wage in
crease to some employees. The Of
fer, he added, 'is not acceptable. -
The IBEW filed unfair labor
practice charges with the regional
National Labor Relations Board
on Monday. The union contended
the company had failed to bar
gain collectively on a job CLASH
flcation the IBEW considers non-
supervisory.
The company holds the job in
question is supervisory and there
fore does not come under terms
Of the Taft Harley Act.
Federal conciliators were here
to try to bring both sides TO ar
agreement that would avert q
strike.