Evening star., 1952-06-28
Transit
Continued From First Page.)

agan met yesterday with repre-
sentatives of Capital Transit to
lay down the preliminarieS for the
July Z session.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue conferred with Mr.. Bierwag-
en-; James j. Gormley, General
Executive Board member of the
International Transit Workers
Union, and Bernard Cushman,
counsel for Local 689. This union
is a branch of the Amalgamated
Association of Street, Electric
Railway and Motor Coach EN-
ployeS of America. Commissioner
Donohue said its purpose was to
bring him up to date.
Approximately 3,400 union
members would be affected direct
ly by strike here, officials ex-
planned.
Mr.. Bierwagen pointed out that
the Executive Board, composed of
eight members and himself, have
authority to call a strike. But UP
to now they have done nothing
about it.
Union sources said that despite
talks with the company dating
back to about May l, they still
have no contract or agreement.
Only broad phases have been dis
cuSsed.
The company wants straight
15-cent cash fare. It would abolish
the present three tokens for 40
cents and the $2.10 weekly pass.
Public Opinion Drive Urged.
The Washington chapter, Ma
tional Assembly for the Advance
ment of Public Relations, urged
the District Commissioners to mo-
billze public-opinion to make the
company arbitrate.
In a statement, Capital Transit
employees said the peaceful al
tentative to a strike is arbitration.
1t said the workers are ready to
submit the dispute to arbitration,
but Capital Transit owners have
refused to comply.
The agreement between Capt.
tai Transit and our union requires
the arbitration of all disputes" :"
the union statement said, refer
ring to the existing contract, ex-
piring Monday night.
The union is distributing small
booklets entitled: why Force a
Bus and Streetcar Striker" It
points out that the issue can be
solved by arbitration, without in
terruption of service to the public.
1t urges that Washington residents
write to Chairman Nicely of the
Senate District Committee and
Commissioner Donohue, asking
them to use their influence with
Capital Transit owners to submit
the dispute to arbitration.
Maryland residents were urged
to write the Public Service Com
mission in Baltimore.
so Contract Changes Sought.
E. Cleveland Giddings, Capital
Transit vice president, explained
the union Is asking for a Is cents
an hour increase across the board.
He said all demands would cost
the company $50 million. The
wage increase alone would cost
$2.3 million. he explained. Some
60 changes in the existing contract
are requested, he pointed out.
The company is definitely and
completely opposed to arbitra-
tion," said Mr.. Giddings. Its
only a smoke screen put up by
the union. Even to the most cas-
ual observer, the arbitration of a
new contract can only result in
unreasonable high fares to the
transit rider. The only one that
can win in arbitration is the union.
In this instance, the company is
standing fast on the public'S side. -
Mr.. Giddings said what the
union wants is the arbitration of
a whole new contract, which would
include these so changes includ-
ing working conditions, wages, and
health and welfare benefits. He
said the company's position is
"you have to negotiate new con-
tract" Within the framework of
any given contract, he said, I'VE
have always had arbitration.