Evening star., 1950-10-04

Picture on Poee A
each day were caught by surprise
and showed up late for work.
The walkout. which began at
IL o'clock last night, was a union
answer to the company's refusal
to rehire a driver fired September
IA.
On short notice, the company
made drivers of it's supervisory
employees today and managed to
operate II of the 46 buses usually
on the streets for the morning
rush hour.
Makeshift Schedule Running.
The buses operated on make
shift schedule and ran from Mary
land points only as far as Barney
Circle or Fifteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue Sc, where
those lucky enough to get aboard
could transfer to city buses. The
lines Eleventh street terminal was
shut down altogether.
Buses operating this morning
were three on the Suitland route
two on Seat Pleasant, three on
Bradbury Heights and one on
Oxon Hill. officials hoped to get
at least three others in action
later.
The lines serve the Census Bu-
reau and Navy photographic Serv-
ice In Suitiand and Andrews Air
Force Base. Last night the latter
installation hauled SO personnel
in Air Force buses, but was finding
the limited service equal to the
demand today.
Several hundred Census Bureau
employees were late to work, but
personnel officials noted no "seri-
ous" increase over the usual
number of absentees.
Other Points Affected.
Other points on the routes in
clude Marlboro, North Beach, Cap
itol Heights, Silver Hill and Mary
land Park.
Leslie L. Altman, company
president and general manager
said the dispute revolved around
the firing of Norman F. Gibbs, a
driver who was involved in an &C
cident September 3 at Pleasant
dale, w. Va.
The bus, chartered for special
trip, slipped off the road during a
rain. No one was injured, but
damage to the bus amounted tc
81, 500, Mr.. Altman said.
Not satisfied with the routine
accident investigation report, Mr.
Altman said he drove 113 miles
to the scene two days later for a
personal investigation.
In the interest of public safety
he then decided Mr.. Gibbs should
be discharged for negligent opera
ton Of vehicle, as well as failure
to comply with company rules in
making out a proper accident re-
port. This included failure to OBJ
tain witnesses names, Mr.. Alt
mann said.
George r. Hays, president OF
the union, Division 1865, Anal
gamated Association of Street
Electric Railway and Motor Coach
Employees of America, said the
company failed to suspend the
driver Immediately as is custo-
mary, but permitted him to con-
tinue to work until the time of his
discharge.
Arbitration Also Involved.
The dispute also includes a COM
pany charge that the union failed
to file grievance appeal within
the 10 allotted days, but was three
days late. The union insists it did
comply within the legal time.
A question of arbitration also
is involved. Mr.. Altman said he
offered to arbitrate, but the union
refused. The union on the other
hand insists it suggested arbitra-
tion. Mr.. Hays said the company
was willing to arbitrate the ques-
ton of whether the grievance
should be arbitrated. The union
contends that under the present
contract, the grievance should be
arbitrated without further ado.
Mr. Altman said the next move
was UP to the union. Mr.. Hays
said the men will return to work
only when the company agrees to
accept the unions arbitration
terms.