Evening star., 1952-04-07

predicted picketing Of telephone
company Offices here did not i'm
mediately develop. and incon-
venience to the public was held to
o minimum.
In this area the strike shut down
operations of the Western Electric
distributing and repair house at
I'LL North Capitol street, where
about 230 employees stayed away
from work.
Equipment Installing Halted.
It also interrupted the work Of
some 800 telephone equipment in
Stallers in the District, Maryland
and Virginia. Western Electric
workers in this area install equip
ment in Chesapeake & Potomac
telephone exchanges and repair
all sorts of equipment.
The strike began nationally at
6 am. in the various time zones
after negotiations broke down IN
New York between Western Elec-
trio and the union, the CIO Com
munications Workers Of America.
About 10000 Western Electric
workers in 43 States and the Dis
trict walked out.
At the same time, $1,000 crafts
men, operators and clerks also
affiliated with CWA struck in New
Jersey, Michigan, Ohio, Northern
California and Nevada. The latter
walkouts, like the Western Elec-
trio dispute, were principally con-
cerned with wage demands.
Changed Minds On Picketing.
In those States where telephone
workers were striking, there was
picketing Of telephone offices.
Tom Collins, president Of Local
1902 here, said strike strategists
had changed their minds about
having Western Electric workers
picket telephone offices. More
than 5000 c. & P. workers here
had been instructed to respect
any picket lines the WE workers
might assemble.
There won't be any picketing
here today or early tomorrow, but
after 6 pm. tomorrow you can use
your own imagination" Mr.. Col
Inns said.
It was recalled that two years
ago Western Electric strikers used
"hit-and-run" picketing tactics al
the telephone offices, marrying
company officials by suddenly
pulling out operators and Other
union workers.
Telegraphers Out 5 Days.
The telephone strike added tt
q communications pattern already
muddied by the 5-day-old strike
of $1,000 Western Union tele.
graphers throughout the Nation
Touching off the walkout, CWA
President Joseph A. Beirne sale
the company's wage offers have
been below what telephone work.
ers are entitled to under wage
stabilization."
The companies refused an offe1
to submit the disputes to the
Wage Stabiliation Board, with ar
agreement to abide by any WISE
decision, the union leader added
B. S. Reed, Washington regior
manager for Western Electric:
distributing force, said the strike
would not be felt by the public
90 long as there was no picketing
j. B. Crigler, vice president anc
general manager of Chesapeake
and Potomac, urged telephone
workers to remain on the job ir
the event of picketing.
An-Night Sessions Fail.
In anticipation Of the picketing
Mr.. Crigler said the compan,
would be confronted with sit
uation where a mere handful O
people attempt to interfere will
the right of CS5P employees to re-
port for work and fulfill their re
Sponsibilities to render depend
able, uninterrupted telephon
service in the Nations Capital"
Negotiations on the Western
Electric contracts begged down il
New York after all-night sessions
The parties still were talkin
in Michigan. however, even afte
the strike was called there, an
it was here that observers saw tn
best chance for a break whic
-.