Atlanta Daily World

Traffic Jams Ease As Strike Ends

Atlanta's trolley and bus service, suspended at midnight Tuesday, April 30, was restored shortly after 3 o'clock Monday afternoon.

The break in the six-day strike came Sunday, when officials representing the Georgia Power Company and the executive committee of Local 732 of the Amalgamated Association of Street Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America (AFL) arrived at a compromise.

The new contract was ratified by more than 1,000 of the 1,350 members of the union, Monday morning, at a meeting held at the Baptist Tabernacle.

The agreement, described by union officials as "the best in the South" provides:

1. A 19 per cent wage increase over the present wage level of 90 cents per hour for trainmen. The new trainmen's wage, on which all other union wages are based, will be $1.07 per hour.

2. The company agreed to make yearly payments to a special pension fund to be set up and administered by the union. Initial payment will be $45,000.

3. Group insurance will be continued for all retired employees until their death.

4. In return for those concessions the union gave up its demands for extra pay for holidays and sick leave.

Before the new settlement was made the company had agreed to shorten the spread of split runs, guarantee an eight-hour day, and make minor contract concessions.

Company and union officials were in session six hours Sunday before Judge John L. Cone, of the United States Labor Conciliation Service announced that an agreement had been reached.

Georgia Power Company officials estimated that the new contract will cost the company $750,000 a year in increased wages, overtime payments and pension contributions.