No Progress Made in Phone Strike
No progress was reported Thursday in the fifth day of a strike by 42,000 telephone company employees against Pacific Bell. Spokesmen for the company and Communication Workers of America said informal talks were continuing in Oakland.
The two sides continued to argue publicly on the merits of the phone company’s contract offer. A CWA spokesman said that while Pacific Bell has boasted that its pay offer would average 10.9% over three years, the actual increase would be only 8.2% for Southern California workers and far less for many phone operators because of lengthened shifts.
Since the walkout began, Pacific Bell said, 75 incidents of vandalism affecting service have been reported, about a third in the Los Angeles area. The company offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone either damaging or destroying company property.
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