Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-11
Transit Union WEIGHS
Third Rebuff Over
Fact-Finding Panel

] WI SuSUualS UbtV1
The transit workers union to-
day was studying what course it
should take in answer to the
Capital Transit Co.'S third re-
fusal to take part in fact-finding
board hearings.
At the same time the Federal
Mediation and Cancellation
Service was seeking a new ap-
proach to the pension dispute
which has threatened a strike
tie-up Of Washington's transit
facilities.
The fact-finding board was
appointed to assess the facts un-
DERIVING the dispute occasioned
by the unions demands for i'm
proved pensions.
Union to Reconsider.
Walter j. Beirwagen, union
president, said IN response to
the company's statement that
"it looks like we will have to
reconsider our positions" The
union position has been one of
cooperation with the fact-f1nd-
ing board and postponement of
a strike call.
1--WE want to see if our obliga-
lions to the public, to the District
Commissioners and to the fact
finding board have been dis
charged, Mr.. Bierwagen said.
"a lot depends on what the fact
finding board will do"
The company also suggested
that the question of whether the
company-union contracts call for
arbitration of the pension dis
pute be carried by the union to
the courts.
There is adequate machinery
provided in the contract to
handle that question:" Mr.. Bier
wagon said. Labor relations
don't belong in the courts"
Mr.. Bierwagen added that
court action would involve long
delays. "The company'S adj
vancement of the idea" he said,
suggests it needs two or three
years delay to do the job on the
company or on the community
that it must have in mind"
Mr.. Bierwagen said Clyde M.
Mills, assistant director of the
mediation service, has asked the
union to hold off any action to
give it time to develop a new
tack.
Sees Action Unnecessary.
District Commissioner Renah
F. Camalier said he felt no &C
ton by the Commissioners is
necessary until the next meeting
of the fact-finding board. He
said this would not be held
until the latter part Of August.
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss,
Engineer Commissioner, said he
understood one reason for the
delay in the meeting of the
board is the absence of o. D.
zimring, one of the unions at
torneys.
Oswald S. Colclough, George
Washington University dean of
faculties and chairman of the
fact-flnding board. said the
boards position is that it is
waiting for instruction from the
Commissioners and the media
ton officials who appointed it.
Notified Yesterday.
The company'S decision to ad-
here to its non-participation poll
icy in respect to the fact finders
was sent to the Commissioners
and the mediation service yester-
udy AFTERNOON.
The company said, in a letter
signed by j. A. B. Broadwater,
president, that the matter had
been discussed thoroughly by the
executive committee of the board
OF directors. The upShot of the
committee meeting was that the
company should reaf6rm it's posi-
ton not to take part in the
boards deliberations.
The company reiterated state
mentS that it has a contract
with the union running to June
80, 1855, and that the dispute
over pensions is not subject to
arbitration. The union has
maintained that the contract
calls for arbitration, if a settle
ment is not reached by negotia-
tions.