Union Wants Digital to Split Top Posts

Digital Equipment Corp. is facing a union proposal to split the jobs of chairman and chief executive as shareholder dissatisfaction with the computer maker increases. The Communications Workers of America said splitting the responsibilities would improve oversight and reassure investors that the board is getting unbiased information. The CWA, which owns 48,000 shares, said it is “imperative” that the board question management, given Digital’s “dismal” performance. The request is the latest of five proposals the nation’s fourth-largest computer maker has received from investors impatient with the 29% decline in the share price during the last year.