Evening star., 1953-01-12
Observation-Disclosures
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Threat 10 Close
Most Schools in
Baltimore Fails
Union ReprisoI Hinted
After City Issues
Strike UItimutum
BY the Assoeiutsd Press


BY the Assoeiussd Press
BALTIMORE, Jan. IL - A
threat to close most of Balti-
more's public schools again as
the unions latest move in q IL
day-old strike of $500 municipal
laborers failed to materialize to-
day as all but Is schools oper-
ated.
The union warned last night
that it would call out janitors
and f1remen after city officials
issued an ultimatum that the
workers must return to their
jobs by noon Wednesday or the
city will no longer recognize their
union.
John w. Lewis, school system
business manager, reported all
but is Of the city's I77s1 public
schools open and heated today
and called it IAN optimistic out
look" considering the unions
threat.
Vandals Open Windows.
Mechanical failures accounted
for one closing and Mr.. Lewis
said 'vandals" opened all the
windows in another building over
the week end making it impos-
sible to heat the building in time
for today's classes. The other
schools were closed because
janitors and custodians failed to
show up.
The Board Of Estimates ulti-
matum, sent to union leaders by
Mayor Thomas d'Alesandro,
charged them with complete
irresponsibility in dealing with
the health and lives OF the pub
lic."
Tempers Sharper.
AS tempers grew sharper be-
tween union and city represen-
tatives, the board warned: 'The
people of Baltimore cannot and
shall not be Subjected to a con-
tinuance of this clearly danger
Gus attempt on the part of the
union to take what it wants
through coercion and intimida-
ton"
The board went on to charge
union leadership" with pre-
venting work crews from making
emergency repairs although the
health commission said breaks
in the water mains endangered
health.
Hyman Pressman. counsel for
the union, accused the Mayor
OF using the strike "as a jump
ing of place in his campaign
for the governorship."
Mayor D'Alesandro. a former
Maryland Representative, is re-
ported considering running for,
the Democratic nomination for
Governor in 1854. He has not
announced his candidacy. =
Mr.. PresSman went on to say
that Mayor D'Alesandro had
been given every chance to settle
the strike honorably and without
losing face. But, said Mr.. Press
man, the Mayor is willing to en-
danger the health and welfare
Of the community to further his
own political ambitions.
IF the Mayor wants war, all I
can say is, the die is cast" MIR.
PreSSman said.
Walked Out as Year Ended.
Local 825 of the AFL Team
sters' Union walked out on New
Years Eve after it failed to get
a general wage increase in it's
proposed new contract.
The city maintains it cannot
afford a pay raise at this time
for all its manual workers. Ne
gotiators offered the union 10
cents an hour more for those
who worked a swing shift, then
later proposed a two-year con-
tract with no increase now but
cost of living boost in 1854.
Want 80 Increase.
The union was last reported to
be asking for a 9 Der cent in
crease. @
Others on strike besides the
school maintenance men include
street cleaners, garbage co1lec-
tors and sewer and water de-
partment workers.
The city has accused some
strikers of intimidating other
union members who want to
work. Police got another call to
protect a man on the job at a
sewage plant yesterday. John
Miller, a chemist, said he re-
ceived telephone threat that
"the boys from the union hall
are coming down to get YOU"
Last week a highways depart
ment foreman told police he was
attacked by half q dozen men he
identified as strikers.
Meanwhile, Baltimoreans with
bulging garbage cans have
hauled waste to city dumps in
their own vehicles, lining up
bumper-to-bumper by the thou
sands.