Evening star., 1953-07-07
Talks Resume
In Transit Union
Pension Dispute
Commissioners Due
To Meet Mediator
And Both Factions

The District Commissioners
and Federal Mediator D. Yates
Heafner were to grapple again
with WaShington's threatened
transit strike at a meeting at the
District Building this afternoon.
They were to meet at 2 o'clock.
An hour later representatives
Of both the Capital Transit Co.
and the transit workers union
are to join the meeting.
Meanwhile, part of the union
membership met this morning.
President Walter j. Bierwagen
said afterwards those present
gave the union leaders a unani-
nous vote Of confidence.
Call for Explanation.
He said the members did the
talking. He added there was a
demand for an explanation why
a strike had not been called when
the pension contract expired at
midnight last Tuesday with the
company adhering to its no.
arbitration policy.
I'VE gave an explanation
which apparently was satisfac-
tory" he said, "for the vote of
confidence followed"
He said the members showed
they felt something had better
come out of this afternoons
meeting"
The meeting, held at the Pyth-
ian Temple, 1912 Ninth street
NV, was for night workers. It
will be followed by another at
8 o'clock tonight for union men,
berS on regular runs. Mr.. Bier
wagon said attendance this
morning was between $50 and
275, making it one Of the largest
morning meetings the union has
had.
Mr.. Heafner conferred with
officials of the company and the
union yesterday. Later he met
with the Commissioners in ana
ticipation of today's meeting.
Strike Authorized.
A strike is threatened over the
company'S denial of the unions
demands for increased pensions
and the company's rejection Of
arbitration on which the union
insists.
Union members on June 26 au-
thorized their leaders to call a
strike at any time beginning a
week ago last Tuesday night
when the pension contract ex-
pired or thereafter. Since then
the union has delayed the strike
call at the request of District
officials who have been trying to
find a way out of the impaSse.
Union officials said today that
the statement used that the
union generally is seeking pen
sions of $104 a month does not
accurately reflect the whole sit
uation.
The union is seeking graduated
pensions based on pay and length
of service. The formula which
the union is requesting is 1A
percent of the highest annual
pay of the last five years, multi
piled by the number Of years
service prior to July l. For
service after July l there would
be added 11a per cent of the
annual pay.
Based on $4,000 Wage.
For a worker retiring now at
the age of IS after Is years
service, the formula works out to
$104. If the man has 35 years
of service the monthly pension
would be $145.83. These figures
are on the assumption of an an
nual wage of $4,000. The pen
sion would be more or less as
the wage figure Is above or below
the $4,000 figure.
Men retiring 10 years from
now would get larger pensions
because they would be figured
on / " per cent of annual earn
ings instead Of ~ per cent.
The company has used the
4104 figure in its statements in
opposition. It adds that the
worker would also get an $S5
Social Security payment If sin
gle, and $127.50 if married and
his wife is also IS.