Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-20
Fare Rise Held
Key 10 Truce
Transit Union Votes
To Accept Package
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
Der of the utilities commission,
Ishuttled back and forth between
the two places.
BY a show Of hands, mean
while, only l6 of the more than
1000 union members attending
last nights membership meet
ing voted against accepting the
new benefits proposal.
The package proposal calls
for an immediate Decent an
hour pay increase, with another
scent raise effective next July
Il. The contract would run to
next August IA. when the Capital
Transit franchise is lifted.
Pension Contributions Raised
Other main provisions include
increased pension fund contri-
buttons by both labor and man
|agement increasing pensions by
about $50 a month. higher
Health and Welfare Fund bene-
fits. seven instead Of six paid
holidays. IL instead Of seven days
of sick leave, a fourth week Of
vacation for 25-year employees
and provisions to continue the
pension and health funds after
Capital Transit passes out Of
the picture
Union President Walter j.
Bierkagen. asked If he considered
the package q victory. said. "ab-
Solutely."
I'VE have achieved some of our
minimal program, he told re-
porters. He said the union
could have won better terms.
probably, by holding out longer
but that leaders acted Gin the
public interest to stop this
fiasco."
Newsmen were banned from
the meeting. but could hear
snatches of the proceedings
through doors.
Ready for Work
Mr.. Bierwagen's first words to
the men were, Are you ready to
|go back to work." There was q
shouted chorus Of "Yes!" fol-
lowed by a smaller wave Of mo"
During his explanation Of the
terms. Mr.. Bierwagen told the
members IF you vote for this
proposal we'll not be on strike
Capital Transit will be, as they
have been since July l."
There was considerable grum-
bling during the Commute ses-
sion by transit workers who
wandered into the lobby to talk
to reporters, especially about the
size Of the 15-cent wage package,
But the overwhelming final vote
of acceptance left not the slight
est doubt about the members
sentiments.
The union meeting climaxed
one Of the most hectic and con-
fused days since the strike began
at midnight June 30. Through
out the day. top union and
management officials were
|closeted, either together or
separately, with the Commission
ers shutting constantly between
them.
Push Settlement Deal
Virtually the entire day was
devoted to sessions by Capital
Transit and union lawyers on re-
visions in the settlement package
accepted last night by the union.
This led to speculation that
Capital Transit might acknowl-
edge agreement on the settle
ment terms, which must be en-
bodied in a labor-management
contract before the strike can
end, regardless Of what else the
company does.
Capital Transit did not COM
NIT itself. But District Engineer
Commissioner Lane said the city
heads have mo reason to think
the company won't agree to the
terms" II a satisfactory operating
arrangement can be worked out.
Mr.. Giddings put the addi-
tional cost of the new union
accepted settlement proposal at
STA million, also including pay
raises for non-union salaried
employees. Mr.. Spencer put the
figure at $l.2 million, also in
Guiding non-union pay raises.
Company officials estimated
that the union wage boosts
amount to about $740, 900 q year,
the pension increases to about
$3.50, 900 and lesser amounts for
other benefits.
While the settlement cost 1g-