Union Hang-Up

Cheerfully parodying an old Bell System slogan as he led 200,000 telephone workers to the picket lines two weeks ago, Communications Workers of America Boss Joseph A. Beirne allowed that "the voice with a smile will be gone for a while." And so it was--at least among the grim-faced installers, operators, linemen, repairmen and clerks out on the streets last week.

But as the nationwide telephone strike --first in 21 years--moved into its third week, it had produced little more than some annoying static in phone service. Beyond a rash of minor sabotage that damaged cables and equipment, the only major effect was a suspension of new phone installations as Bell System companies kept skeleton repair crews close to central offices. Filling in for striking operators, gravel-voiced executives on twelve-hour switchboard shifts were all thumbs at first, but by week's end most were well on the way to mastering their temporary tasks.

In contrast to 1947, when a walkout of 370,000 workers snarled the nation's telephone communications for 44 days, the 84-million-phone Bell System is now all but invulnerable to shutdown by strike. Only 18 of Bell's towns (among them: York, Ala., Nashwauk, Minn.) are still served by manual switchboards; elsewhere, automated equipment has eliminated the need for operators on 99.8% of local calls and 91% of long-distance calls. The American Telephone & Telegraph Co. insists that its new gear can function without attention indefinitely. And even union men concede that, thanks to up-from-the-ranks promotion policies, the companies have enough technically savvy managerial help on hand to keep the system going "for years."

Thus it is surprising that phone workers actually chose to strike over their demands for higher pay--which is up for regular renegotiation under "wage reopener" clauses midway through their three-year contracts. Most of the militance comes from the C.W.A.'s 23,000 central-office installers. The highest-paid men in the industry (earning some $3.27 per hour v. $2.76 for the average phone worker), they have hooted down industry offers of a 71% pay increase over the next 18 months, are demanding a whopping 10 1/2%.

Union President Beirne, who had been predicting an "overwhelming win," seemed to be moving closer to a settlement at week's end. And he needed one to get himself off the hook.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.