Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-12-17
Bus Riders Hit
ByWMA Strike
3 Vehicles
Reported
Damaged

The drivers and mechanics
strike against the VIVA Tran
sit Co. neared the end Of its
second day with the prospect
that thousands of the COM
passengers would have
to find other ways to commute
from Washington to Prince
Georges County.
AS the strike went on, With
no prospect Of an early settle
ment. there were reports of
damage to three company
owned vehicles.
The strike began at midnight
Saturday.
Twenty-Five buses normally
used on contract runs for pa
rochial schools in the area re-
in the garage.
The charge of violence was
leveled by Woodrow w. Miller,
president of the Prince Georges
County MD bus company.
He said someone dropped a
cinder-block on the hood Of a
company radio car at 2 am.
from the Suitland parkway
overpass as the vehicle passed
beneath on Sultland road. Mr..
also said someone threw
a brick through the window of
a bus on Shadyside avenue at
8 am.
Mr.. Miller also said he was
awaiting a report of an Incl
dent this morning in which,
he declared, a striker drove his
car in front of a bus and
caused an accident. Union
spokesman said that the driver
Of the bus tried to pass on the
inside lane and did not possess
an Interstate Commerce Com
mission card permitting opera
ton of a bus.
Roy Granata, international
representative of the Transport
Workers Union of America
(AFL-CIO), retorted that Mr..
Miller was seeing shadows.
He said the striking members
Of Local 284 had strict orders
against violence.
No Reports Received
Prince Georges County and
Park Police said they had re-
ceived no reports of the alleged
attacks. Mr.. Miller said the
radio car was occupied by Fred
Clayton of the Metropolitan
Detective Agency, and one
other private officer, James
Tuttle, when the cinder block
smashed the hood.
Normally, about 80 buses
are on WMA's rush hour
into Washington to
accommodate about $4,000 pas
sengers. The rs vehicles used
as school buses normally carry
5000 parochial students.
Mr.. Miller said the company
employed AZ buses this morning
for inbound service and met
all regular schedules. Herbert
Lowey, secretary treasurer Of
the union. commended only II
buses were on the streets. He
said three were turned back be-
cause the drivers had no per-
mits and one was involved in
an accident.
Company spokesman said it
was using supervisory person.
mel, regular drivers and trainees
and predicted no delay to COM
between Prince Georges
County and the Washington
terminal at Eleventh and Penn
sylvania avenue NV.
Most OF the lines regular
riders apparently found seats
on those buses running or other
ways Of getting into town this
morning. A reporter said. how
ever, he saw some people who
had been waiting at inbound
stops for more than an hour
this morning.
5000 Pupils Not Served
If the number OF buses re.
ported operating today is &C
curate. II means from thou
sands OF county residents had
to find other means Of getting
to work. The company made no
effort 10 transport the usual
5000 parochial students who
ride contract vehicles each day.
These schools include: Priory,
st. Margaret's, Mt. Calvary.
st. Jerome's, Holy Family, st.
Johns, Archbishop Carroll. La
Refine, Notre Dame Academy,
Immaculate, ST. Patrick's, Holy
Comforter, ST. Francis Xavier,
Mackin. Gonzaga, De Malta,
Immaculate Conception and
See STRIKE. Page AS