Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-27
Transit Union Aide
'Assai|s City Heads
Workers Rights
Held Ignored in
Authority Bill

Representatives OF the transit
Workers Union today assailed
the District Commissioners for
failing to include collective bar
gaining and arbitration provi-
Isions in their bill to set up
Ia Metrop olitan Washington
Transit Authority.
Preparing to offer amend
ments to the measure at con-
igressional hear 'lgs, E. L. Oliver
of the Midwesv Labor Bureau
charged that the bills failure
to include the provisions sought
by the union was a "glaring
omission"
He charged the Commission
ers' bill parallels in detail the
metropolitan Transit Authority
Iact which set up the Chicago
Transit Authority.
suspects Motive
/ However, Mr.. Oliver said, "the
omission of the collective bar
gaining and arbitration provi.
lsions provided in the Chicago
Iact are a glazing omission. There
must be some strong reason why
they were left out, of this
measure.
I He declared the Washington
transit snarl was "precipitated
by a breakdown in labor rela-
tions and the Commissioners
first consideration should have
been to assure stable situation
here which will not require Con-
Igress to concern itself repeatedly
with local transit problems"
| He said both the Boston and
Chicago transit authorities pro-
Ivided for union recognition, bar
gaining and arbitration as a
result of unsuccessful experiences
lin San Francisco, New York and
cleveland, where there were no
bargaining provisions.
| Mr.. Oliver said the Labor
Bureau of the Midwest is a
Chicago organization which pro-
ivides technical, legal and eco
nomic advice to any bonafide
labor union which desires to
retain it. The bureau maintains
"a suite Of Offices in Washington
at 1901 Connecticut avenue NV.
To Offer Amendments
Mr.. Oliver said the union will
offer amendments at committee
hearings on the transit authority
bill, and will not seek to have
them introduced before then by
individual members of Congress.
He praised the Chicago author
Iity's labor relations as having
provided 10 years of harmonious
Operation there.
| Herman Sternstein Of the
Labor Bureau outlined the points
in which the Commissioners bill
parallels. the Chicago act. He
said the measures are almost
identical in provisions for bond
issuance, condemnation, powers
of the authority, liability to dam
age suits. power to investigate
and hold hearings. take out in
surance and other items.
Many sections of the measure
were drafted by the banking firm
of Blyth & Co., which helped set
up the Chicago authority.
Chicago PrOviSOs
The Chicago act, it was point
ed out, declares that the di-
rectors of the authority may
deal with and enter into writ
ten contracts with the employees
of the authority through accred-
tied representatives of such en-
ployes or of any labor organiza-
ton authorized to act for such
employees, concerning wages, SAL
aries. powers, working conditions
and pension or retirement pro-
visions.
.. In case of dispute over
wages, salaries, hours, working
conditions, or pension or retire.
ment provisions, the board may
arbitrate any question or ques-
tons and may agree with such
accredited representatives or
labor organization that the de-
cision of the majority of any ar
bitration board shall be final.
provided each party shall agree
in advance to paw half the ex-
pense Of such arbitration"
The Chicago Act also requires
that if the authority acquires an
existing transit system AL Of
the employees in the operating
and maintenance divisions
and all other employees except
executive and administrative Of
f1cers and employees. shall be
transferred to and appointed as
employees of the authority
and these employees shall be
given seniority credit in ac-
Icordance with the records and
labor agreements. of the public
utility"
The Commissioners have ex-
Iplained that their failure to in
Iclude collective bargaining and
arbitration provisions in their
bill results from their inability
to find precedent for such pro-
visions in laws setting up Fed
eral agencies which also deal
with unions.
I