Evening star., 1955-06-25
Workers Vote
Power toCaII
Transit Strike
WoIkout Hinges
On Agreement by
Midnight Thursday

Transit Co. last night authorized
their leaders to call a strike at
any time after midnight next
Thursday if a new contract
agreement with the company has
not been reached.
Defeated on a close voice vote
earlier was motion which would
have set midnight Thursday as
the deadline for automatic
strike. Leaders called for the
more flexible motion giving them
discretion in calling a strike.
June 80 is the expiration OF
the present contract.
Special Mass Meeting
The employees acted at a spe-
cial mass membership meeting
of Local $50, Amalgamated AS
sociation of Street, Electric Rail-
way and Motor Coach Employees.
AFI..
The union represents about
5000 of Capital Transit's $500
employees.
With one ballot box remaining
sealed to allow late-shift work
ers. to vote, the count in favor
of a strike was 2,104 to It's.
Union leaders said the uncounted
and late ballots could not change
the outcome.
The company estimates the
union demands at some 81 mil
lion in annual wage, pension and
fringe benefit increases. It pres
emily is seeking a fare increase
before the Public Utilities Com
mission. The union has turned
down company proposals that
the existing contract be extended
until the end of the year so that
the results of the application
could be determined.
Walter j. Bierwagen, president
of the local, and E. Cleveland
Giddings, vice president of the
company, reported that no prog
ress was made toward heading
of q strike at a morning meet
ing of company and union OFF,
tcials yesterday.
Meeting Set for Monday
Federal mediators assigned to
the transit situation have sched-
.uled a meeting with both sides
for 2 pm. Monday.
Also, the Senate District Com
Smittee will meet at 3 pm. Mon
day to study the recommended
ton of one Of its subcommittee
that efforts be made to prevent .
strike or work stoppage.
Committee Chairman Nicely,
Democrat. of West Virginia
called the full committee into
session to consider the proposal
originated yesterday by Senator
Morse, Democrat. Of Oregon in
the subcommittee.
Subcommittee Chairman Nc
Namara, Democrat, of Michigan
agreed with Senator Morse that
some steps should be taken to
head off a strike that would
"tie up this city tighter than a
knot" and damage Federal Gov
ernment operations.
They proposed letters to the
District Commissioners, the CTC
and the transit union in at
tempts to forestall the economic
war" Left up to Chairman
Nicely and the full Senate Dis
trict Committee, however. was
procedure to be followed.
Morse Calls for Action
Senator Morse, emphasizing
that he has no official informa- =
ton about the dispute between
CTC and the transit union, said
he was not willing to sit idly
by and let the dispute become a
strike or work stoppage.
If there should be- strike,
Senator Morse warned that the
public who depend on bus and
streetcar transportation would
complain to Congress: why
don't you get this strike settled?"
Designating the two subcom-
fnittee members as "a couple of
city aldermen" who should pro-
ceed in advance of a strike. Sen
ator Morse declared, Eve don't
intend to sit back and see the
city tied up tighter than a knot
and the Government damaged" ("
IT am ready" he said emphat-
ically. ito knock heads together
before the damage starts. There
is no excuse for a tie-up next
week"