Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-16
Union to Retain
Old Contract
Until November
By HECTOR MCLEAN

Transit System as the new COM
pany rushed to substitute its
name for that Of Capital Transit
Co. on 800 buses and 500 street.
cars purchased yesterday from
ICTC.
Any chance of a strike before
November / was ruled out last
might, when more than 1000
members of the transit workers
union voted by standing ballot
in Constitution Hall to accept a
deal reached Monday between
union officers and o. Roy Chalk,
president and board chairman Of
D. C. Transit.
Mr.. Chalk had wanted a full
years extension of the unions
old contract with etc, rather
than bargaining on terms of a
new contract proposed by the
union.
Agrees to Bargain
He got a 75-day extension Of
the old contract by agreeing to
bargain on the new proposals and
consenting to make terms of any
settlement retroactive to yester-
day, when etc went out Of the
transit business.
| Promising there would be no
lay offs during the extension, Mr..
Chalk also agreed to concede in
favor OF the union all grievances
now being arbitrated under the
old contract, thus wiping the
slate clean of such actions.
Bernard Cushman, counsel for
the union, said this involves five
cases. One estimate was that
the gesture would cost the COM
pany between $1,000 and $4,000.
Mr.. Chalk also specifically
recognized that the union, in its
proposals for a new contract, is
demanding arbitration of new
contracts and agreed to bargain
on the issue.
4 Stressed by Bierwagen
This was stressed in formal
statement after the vote by WAL
tier j. Bierwagen, president Of
division $50. Amalgamated As
ISOLATION of Street, Electric
Railway and Motor Coach En-
ployes of America. He said:
1.-THE interim period agree
ment we have arrived at includes
la provision for negotiating the
setting up of permanent arbitra-
ton machinery. While only q
week ago Mr.. Chalk had fatty
refused to put such arbitration
machinery in the new contract to
be negotiated, he has apparently
Iretreated from this position, and
is prepared to recognize the arbi-
tration commitment made to the
public.
I'VE should remember that the
community has been subjected
to stoppages in the past solely
because of the refusal by the
previous management to arbi-
trate disputes.
1--WE pledge to the public that
I'VE will strive to set up per-
1manent arbitration machinery
.Ifor the settlement of disputes
by october 81. We will press,
in negotiations. for compliance
by Mr.. Chalk with his commit
ment to this community to
establish permanent arbitration
machinery. In this effort we
feel that we will have the sup
Iport of the community.
Pay Boost Also Sought
| Mr.. Bierwagen noted that the
union is making other demands.
which include a 25-cent AN hour
wage increase and improvements
in pensions. vacations and work.
ing conditions.
Mr.. Chalk, in seeking Con-
lgressional approval Of his 20
year franchise with exemption
from several District taxes, told
House and Senate conferees he
I''would welcome and accept i'm
partial and binding arbitration
las a method for resolving any
disputes that collective bargains
ling negotiations may fall to re.
solve and shall agree to for
mula for the selection of an
Impartial chairman Of a three
member board of arbitration to
make sure that no impass could
occur in the setup Of the arbi-
lCration machinery.
Mr.. Chalk was quoted later
las saying he meant arbitration
within the life Of an existing
contract. not arbitration Of de-
mands for a new contract.
Proposed as Accepted
In his proposal to Mr.. Bier
wagon accepted by the union.
Mr.. Chalk said. q. the arbi-
Itration Of new or renewal con-
tract shall be undertaken on
terms which shall be mutually
lagreed upon between the union
and the company :" He added
a proviso. however. that III no
mutual agreement is reached on
the terms Of arbitration OF a
new or renewal contract by Oc-
tober 81, 1856, the union is free
to strike"
/ etc and the city had agreed
last year TO tear up streetcar
tracks across Key Bridge in con-
nection with reconstruction Of
the span. The Public Utilities
Commission yesterday ordered
that streetcar service across the
bridge be ended next Sunday
with substitution Of shuttle bus
service between Rosslyn Ter
minal and T11irty.firSt and N