Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-26
U. 5. Asked
To Help Avert
Hotel Strike
Union Leaders Urge
Continuous Tulks;;
Employees to BoIIot

AHOut O,UUU WOfkClcs U1Cx11-
bers of five local AF'L unions,
will ballot tomorrow on whether
q strike will be called at the
expiration of a contract with
the % major hotels here next
Tuesday night.
However. attorneys for both
sides, as well as Commissioner
Renah F. Camalier, expressed
hope that q satisfactory settle
ment Of the issues would avoid
the possibility of a strike on the
night when Legionnaires would
be returning TO their lodgings
following the big parade Tues
day.
ConneIl Sees Tragedy"
At his first press conference
today, National Comdr. Arthur
]. Connell said it would be "a
tragedy" for the convention if
hotel employees IL Washington
go out on strike. But he ex-
pressed confidence that man
agement and labor will work
out their differences and elimi-
nate the strike threat.
The unions are Joined under
the Joint Executive Board,
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
and Bartenders' International
Union, and are negotiating with
the Hotel Association of Wash
ington.
Negotiations between the union
and the Washington Hotel As
ISOLATION have been underway
for a month. Henry Kaiser, at
torney representing the union.
said no progress has been made
in bargaining sessions to date.
definite Chance" of Strike.
There is a definite chance
that a strike win occur" he told
a reporter. =
Mr.. Kaiser said the union,
which held a 20-day strike In
1916, has proposed II changes
In the contract it has with the
employers group.
Major union demands, accord
ing to the attorney, involve a 10
cent-an-hour across-the- Hoard
increase, a flve-day work week
at straight time, instead of the
current six-day week, and In
creased 7. holiday and vacation
benefits. q FEE'*A ~
He said the hotel representa-
tives have proposed only that
the present contract be renewed.
Mr.. Kaiser said the union has
given the required notice to the
Federal Mediation and Concilia-
ton Service and the hotels. SO
the union could strike when the
contract expires.
: All-Day Voting.
Union members are Sched-
uled to cast their ballots for or
against a strike in all-day voting
tomorrow at the Eve union halls
Mr.. Kaiser said. tEsa
The hotels with which the un.
ion is dealing are: Ambassador
Annapolis. Burlington. Congress
sional, Continental, Dupon
Plaza, Harrington. Hamilton
Houston, Hay-Adams, Lafayette
Lee House, Martinique. May.
flower, New Colonial. Raleigh
Roger Smith, Shoreham, Statler
Sheraton Park, Sheraton Carl.
ton, Washington and willard.
In the 1916 work stoppage
supervisory employees served al
bellhops and did many othel
chores to maintain degree O.
normal operation.
Workers involved in the ne.
gotiations include all hotel bar.
tenders. restaurant, kitchen anc
house service employees.
Arbitration Offer Rejected.
Mr.. Kaiser said that during
the month-long talks, the joint
executive board of the unions Of
fered to submit the issue tc
arbitration, but the offer was
rejected.
Joseph c. McGarraghy, at
torney for the Hotel Associa-
ton. pointed out that 1--WE have
had formal agreements with the
union since 1899 without SUBJ
hitting to arbitration, and see
no reason why we need a third
party now"
He said that the association
is still negotiating. No meet
ings had been scheduled this
morning, however.
Mr.. McGarraghy said that tn,
union has made economic de.
mands which the hotel group ha,
, not been able to accept. To MIR
Kaiser's contention that the as.
ISOLATION had not indicated 4
would grant q single economi,
benefit, he replied that the con
tract contains many benefits
granted between 1949 and 1858
Tells Of Occupancy Drop.
what we are asking the unior
to do is realize the situation O
the hotel people and not ask 70
more benefits" he said. HI
listed some Of the benefit
granted in the past as includin,
insurance. wage increases. hourl,
adjustments and other tangibl
advances.
These benefits, he said, wer
granted when hotel occupanc,
percentages were higher than to
days levels. He said figures hav
been given the unions indicating
that occupancy is down 5 pc
cent from last year, when
fell 5 per cent below 1852.
Mr.. Kaiser countered that "w
are negotiating 1854 contract
not 1949 contract. II we hav
received pay increases in tina
period. do you know Of anyon
who failed to?"