Evening star., 1951-10-28
W.M.&A.toPui
Half lis Buses
Back in Service.
Permanent Employees
SuppIonting Strikers,
Company Announces

SlX-Week-old w I. & A. busline
strike, the management planned
to have alraAst half its buses
operating again tomorrow.
President LSSlie L. Altman OF
the suburban line said 81 to 2;
of some So buses will be back on
their routes tomorrow, manned by
permanent employees" .-
MIR. Altman announced that
rush-hour service on all main
lines will be virtually back to
normal in two weeks, under a
replacement and training sched-
ule he has set up.
Old Schedules Restored.
He added that the usual mid
day service and evening schedules
up to 9 or 10 pm. will be are-
stored tomorrow. 4;
Meanwhile, more than 100 un-
ion drivers and shop mechanics
stuck to their demands that all
strikers be returned to their jobs
on the basis of an agreement
which. they said, the management
repudiated Monday.
While union and management
were deadlocked over Mr.. Alt
mans refusal to reinstate five
strikers, commuters aroused over
the continued lack of public trans
portation in their communities
called a mass meeting for tomor-
row at 8 pm. in the Maryland
Park High School.
A strong pro-union sentiment
runs through many of the nearby
communities. especially those
which have expanded rapidly
since the war. AS one Bradbury
Heights businessman put it, 1.-The
people around here don't want
a service operated by strikebreak-
ers because it may mean more
trouble, and it's almost sure to
mean fewer schedules"
Requirements Seem Certain.
Mr.. Altman, however, is deter
mined. he said, to replace the
strikers with permanent en-
ployes." When the strike was
called, September Is, he kept II
buses running with the aid OF
supervisory personnel, and since
has been employing bus opera
tors. Five additional new en-
ployes were placed in training
yesterday. he said. NJ,
Mr.. Altman and the union re-
Gently agreed to settle the strike
on the basis of a 10-cent-an-hour
pay boost. Charles Penrod, presi-
dent of the AFL local. said the
management also agreed to ac-
cept all strikers who reported
back last Monday.
The strikers reported for work,
but walked out again after Mr..
Altman. they said, accused five
of their number of vandalism,
and refused to take them back.
Some 40 windows were broken
in the company's garage at 4431
Southern avenue, Bradbury
Heights. early on the morning of
September 18. The union denied
responsibility. Businessmen in the
area were inclined to blame juve-
nile delinquents who have dam
aged property in a big COM
munity shopping center near the
garage.
Eight Are Charged.
Eight strikers are under
charges Of disturbing the peace.
They were arrested by County
police for crowding about the
garage doors during picketing
operations in an effort to prevent
buses from going into service
Their conviction in an Upper
Marlboro Court has been appealed
Two weeks ago Mr.. Altman
charged that sabotage was re-
sponslble for wrecking a $4,000
radio tower of Station WBUZ-FM.
which he operates. Guy wires were
cut or unbolted from their bases,
Mr.. Altman said.
On the other hand, most of the
strikers are family men with chill
dren. living in the vicinity of the
company garage in Bradbury
Heights. Their terms of employ-
ment range from two to 90 wears.
Both strikers and management are
agreed on one point-they have
operated the service for % years
without a traffic fatality.
The partial service during the
strike has Accommodated less than
third of the $4,000 commuters
who normally use the line. Prin-
clpal routes are to Andrews Air
Force Base and to Seat Pleasant.
The buses also serve Marlboro,
North Beach, Silver Hill, Mary
land Park and numerous small
communities southeast of WASH
ington.
Census Bureau Affected.
On the routes also are a section
OF the Census Bureau and the Navy
photographic Office, both at Suit
land.
Commuters are relying largely
on share-the-ride plans. Taxicabs
IN nearby sections did a boom
business at first, but that is slack
ing OFF, the drivers say.
Business in the shopping centers
OF the affected communities has
shown a decline. despite the fact
that most stores are stocking I'M
Tor the fall and holiday season
Housewives who ordinarily drive
the family car on shopping trips
have had to surrender this trans
portation to the breadwinners
the merchants said.
The strikers themselves are per.
haps the hardest hit. Of the
payroll since September 15 thew
receive $40 week from the union
unless they can find at least two
days of part-time employment
during any one week.
Few have any savings to fall
back on. The drivers received 81 80
an hour. and top mechanics 81 so