Evening star., 1952-12-12
Forty Arnold Buses
Running During Strike
Instead Of Usual 130
Suit Filed by Union
Challenges State Seizure
On Constitutional Grounds

A striking union which has cut
Arnold lines bus service to a bare
minimum had Virginia's public
utility seizure law under fire today
State Highway Commission EN-.
ployes were behind the wheels OF
the commuter buses again today
but they were still operating only
on a rush-hour basis and ending
their runs toward Washington al
Rosslyn Circle and the Pentagon
Normally. to handle about 50,-
900 commuters a day, the line
would have 130 buses on the Ar
lington and Fairfax routes. Under
the emergency operation, there
were only about 40 of them in use
for today's rush hours.
They run from 6 to about $50
am. and from 8 to 7 PM, and
will not be running at night or on
Sunday.
Drivers, mechanics and mainte-
nance men walked off their jobs
early Wednesday morning in a
surprise action that left thousands
Of morning rush-hour commuters
stranded at bus stops.
Line Seized by State.
The State. acting on an order
by Gov. Battle late in
November, seized the line under its
Public Utility Seizure Act designed
to protect the public interest.
The union filed suit in Rich
mond City Circuit Court yesterday
questioning conStitutionality of ths
seizure law, charging violation OF
the Taft-Hartley law as we'll as
the State and Federal Constitu-
tionS.
No date has been set for the
hearing.
Notice of the unions action was
served on Gov. Battle and State
Corporation Commission officials
today by Richmond City Sheriff
James H. Young. The suit asks
temporary and permanent in
functions to restrain the State
from taking over the bus line
operations.
A ferryboat workers union last
year started an unsuccessful court
fight against the States seizure
law. The Virginia Court of Ap-
peals ruled in favor of the Com
and the United States
Supreme Court recently refused tc
review the decision, mainly or
grounds that the 1852 General AS.
Sembly enacted new law on the
subject.
The striking bus union is divi-
sion 1919 of the Amalgamatec
Association OF Electric Railway
and Motor Coach Employees o1
America.
Wage Increase Asked.
Before expiration of a contract
November %, the employees asked
a general 30-cents-an-hour pay
boost. The company offered 3.
cent increase now and a Scent
one to be effective next November
to bring the Arnold pay scale tt
a parity with that of the A. B
& w. lines. which also operate.
into Virginia. Basic wage fol
Arnold drivers with one year ex.
perience now is $1.67 an hour.
The union met at 2 am. Wed
nesday to consider the company
offer, but called the flash strike
not because of the wage offer, but
because it said the company re-
fuses to arbitrate.
One union official said the en-
ployes would return to work i'm
mediately with company agree
ment to submit the dispute to ar
bitration.
The strike came with no warn.
ing. The Democratic Council OF
Arlington County has condemned
failure of the union to give the
public adequate warning. Leon
ard o. Hilder. in presenting the
resolution. emphasized that the
council was taking no part as tc
merits of the dispute. but he was
highly critical of the walkout
without prior notice.
Share -the-ride plans sprang ur
quickly. even on the first day, anc
are still in operation. Capita
Transit has expanded its service
to the Rosslyn terminal in order
to pick up the Arnold passengers
bound to and from Washington.