Evening star., 1962-08-30
Union WaIkoui
Halls Railroad
AS Talks Fail


Operations on the Chicago q
North Western Railway, one Of
the Nations largest railroads.
were halted today by a strike
despite personal efforts by
President Kennedy to avert the
walkout.
Freight and passenger service
along the nearly 11,0o0-mile-
long line in nine Midwestern
States was struck at 8 am.
(EDT) by 1000 members Of the
AFL-CIO Order of Railroad
Telegraphers.
Operations on the railroads
10. 0.600-mile Midwest network in
nine States halted as 1000
members Of the Order Of Rail-
road Telegraphers quit work.
The telegraphers counted solid
support from members Of the
other railroad unions, who left
their jobs also.
Passengers, including 35 900
Chicago suburban commuters,
sought other means of travel.
and freight for thousands Of
stores and factories served by
the Northwestern began back
ing UP in railyards and ware
houses.
Top-level negotiators. whose
11th-hour efforts last night
failed to head off the walkout,
accepted glumly q summons to
a noon meeting from Francis
A. ONeill Of the National Me-
diation Board.
Issue Defined
The big issue also ct stake
in the telegraphers' bargaining
with other lines and in the dis
pute between all the Nations
rail carriers and five brother
hoods representing train crews,
has these critical aspects:
What happens when i'm
proved equipment replaces the
obsolete and requires fewer men
to operate it?
In the case Of telegrraphers,
the old dot-daSh transmitting
and DECIDING Of messages was
long ago obviated.
The men are still on hand,
and the railroads say they're
paying millions Of dollars in
wasted wages because the work
that used to tax many men is
done now by machinery a
greatly reduced work force
could control.
It was the fourth strike called
by the union since the dispute
with the North Western started
more than four years ago, but
the first to go into effect. 1t
also was the first strike against
a major railroad since the
Transport Workers Union
struck the Pennsylvania Rail-
road for IL days in September,
1860.
ALI Trains stopped
At the strike deadline, a
spokesman for the railroad
said all trains had halted.
Pickets appeared at the North
Western Station on Madison
street, the carriers general
headquarters. Union officials
had said some $4,000 other
employees Of the line would not
cross the telegraphers' picket
lines.
The strike started officially
some five hours after union
and railroad officials met in
lengthy, last-minute negotia-
tions in an attempt to settle
the long dispute.
Secretary Of Labor Goldberg
was sent to the negotiations by
Mr.. Kennedy in an attempt
to reach an agreement. The
Government had exhausted all
legal means Of preventing the
strike.
Mr.. Goldberg who was selec-
ted for the Supreme Court by
Mr. Kennedy yesterday, said he
was disappointed over the fall
ure to halt the walkout and
said that it was very important
} that this dispute be settled
promptly"
II regret very much" Mr..
Goldberg added, that despite
strenuous efforts on every
: body's part. we have been un-
: able to resolve this dispute as
t of now"
VIII Keep in Touch
! "1f felt my presence would
! be helpful" Mr.. Goldberg said,
II would continue on through
out the night" He said he
would keep in touch with Mr..
ONeill on the progress Of the
negotiations.
| Asked if he felt failure of
the union and railroad to reach
an agreement was q rebuff to
d President Kennedy. Mr.. Gold
berg said: "It is a free country.
> We don't like strikes but there
e is right to strike"
! The Northwestern, the Ma
: tion's third largest in track
= mileage extending from Chicago
r into Wyoming, started pre-
= pairing for the shutdown last
e night. A freight embargo be-
= came effective seven hours in
y advance Of the strike deadline