Evening star., 1951-10-30
Petitions Circulated
For Official Help 10
End W. N. & A. Strike

Residents of nearby Maryland
areas served by the W., M. & A
busline today were seeking sigma.
lures on a petition that will be
sent to officials and regulatory
bodies who might be able to helr
settle the six-Week-old strike OF
the busline.
This means of reconciling a
labor-management Stalemate was
decided on last night at a meet
ing held in Maryland Park High
School. attended by about 80 per-
sons, including many of the strik-
Il ing drivers and their wives.
1t is planned to send the petition
to Gov. McKeldin of Maryland
Senator Butler, Republican, and
Representative Sasscer. Democrat,
of that State; the Maryland Public
Service Commission, the District
Public Utilities Commission and
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
HardShipS Cited.
The petition, in part. asks Gov
McKeldin and the regulatory
bodies to use their legal and
moral powers toward a just and
speedy reconciliation of the
strike. for the purpose of restoring
peace and public order within the
community. 1t also states that
the strike "has inconvenienced
children on their way to school,
men and women to and from
work and the general welfare of
the affected communities.
Daniel Jacobowski, a member of
"a three-man subcommittee named
to draw up the petition, said it
will be circulated by volunteers.
Mr.. Jacobowski, who lives at 831
'Fifty-first street Sc. is executive
assistant of the International
Union of Electrical Workers (CIO).
Another speaker was Walter J.
BlerWagen of Greenbelt. Md. Mr..
Blerwagen is business agent Of the
National Capital Local Division
689, Amalgamated Association of
Street, Electric Railway g. Motor
Coach Employees of America. Both
men emphasized they were speak
ing as private citizens of the af-
fected areas.
Boycott Urged.
Floyd G. Splitter. representing
the Carmody Hills Citizens Asso-
citation. urged a boycott of the
buSline. 1t is now being manned
by permanent employees" and
Leslie L. Altman, president of the
line, has said he is determined
they will replace the strikers.
George E. Nairn. president of
the Town Council of Capitol
Heights, presided at the meeting.
Among those present was Charles
Penrod. president of the AFL
local.
Mr.. Altman told a reporter
later that he wasn't invited, but
was around" in a car. He also
said he had a representative
around about. who reported to him
that there only were 50 people at
tending.
One Of the bus drivers said the
reason there were no more than
the estimated 80 persons, was that
I'VE didn't have any bus service
to get to the school,"
Mr.. Altman said that today
there should be about Is or Is Of
the company's So buses back on
their routes. manned by the per
manent employees" and that about
10 more men are in training. He
repeated a previous assertion that
rush-hour service on all main lines
will virtually be back to normal
in two weeks under his replace
ment and training program and
that schedules are being main
tanned.
The 100 union drivers and shop
mechanics are sticking to their
demands that all strikers be re-
turned to their jobs on the basis of
an agreement which, they said, the
management has repudiated. Mr..
Altman and the union recently
agreed to settle the strike on the
basis of a 10-cent-an-hour pay
raise. Mr.. Penrod and the man
|agement also agreed to accept all
strikers who reported back on Oc-
tober %.
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