Representatives of Communication Workers of America locals striking Commonwealth Telephone . Company submitted the following statements in answer to Commonwealth President Bill Umphred’s appeared in area newspapers. 1. The demands for wages and fringe benefits were not decided upon by C.W.A. leadership on the national level but were decided upon by the membership in each one of W six Commonwealth als. These demands were then further condensed and refined by the Bargaining Committee comprised of a representative from each one of the six locals and the Each demand was thoughtfully. arrived at after serious ‘consideration of our local peoples needs. 2. The union has never considered that the company is out to break the union. We realize that a union not enly is beneficial company as ell. It brings vaiformity of is much more desir:able to deal the individual whims of each employee. The union too looks back relationship with the company and also looks ard to the resumption or a mutually beneficial relationship. 3. Union leadership was lead to believe that the! 9.4 percent offer was a shift in ‘money from pension to wages only because we had three different quotes made on the cost of the pension and at this point we are still not sure of its real cost. 4. The company claims that the final offer is the largest dollar settlement members. With this the union agrees but we would also like to point out that the percentage increase gets smaller each year leaving us with a dollar increase that remains almost constant each year been badly eroded by inflation. 5. The company keeps comparing the earnings and benefits of our people with other employers not engaged in the same type of business. We feel that the only legitimate comparison is with another company ‘engaged in the business of communications. When this is done some very serious short comings are Lets take as an example the job classification installer- repairman. This is the person who installs the phones in homes and business places and maintains them. Under the 9.4 percent increase as proposed by the company a Commonwealth installer is still $31.53 a week or $1639.56 a year behind a Bell System installer. Under the unions demand of 12.5 percent, this same Commonwealth installer would still be $27.55 a week lettuce butter, applesauce, milk. ' Dinners Tuesday Thru Sunday 3 VEAL CORDON SUISSE Baked Rock VE)RNISH GAME HEN YRIME RIB of BEEF Baked So. African LOBSTER SPECIAL Stuffed Boneless BREAST of CAPON JIM) IS OPEN: Mon. - Salad, Pot, Veg. Salad, Pot, Veg. or A Side of Spaghetti au-jus, Salad, Pot, Veg. Fr. Fries, Cole Slaw Salad, Pot., Beg. N BACK! or $1432.60 a year below a Bell System installer. Looking at the job classification of operator, we find that a Commonwealth operator under the company offer of 9.4 percent is $25.02 a week or $1301.04 a year below a Bell operator. Under the union demand of 12.5 percent this same operator would still be $21.40 a week or $1060.80 a year under a Bell System operator. These large differences exist between all other job classifications. The union is mindful that Commonwealth Telephone being a rural operation company is in no position to match Bell wages but we also feel that too large a difference exists today. It is interesting to note that just a few years ago the difference in wages between the two companies was only in the area of ten dollars per week in some classifications compared to the wide difference that exists today. The area of fringe benefits has also seen a gradual widening each year. 6. The union has constantly talked about compromise while the company has talked in terms of ‘Final Offer’. The union has kept a low profile in regards to press releases because we felt we could not win through the news media what we had failed to win at the The first of three 1976 blood collections in . the Back Mountain will be held in the Gate of Heaven auditorium, Feb. 3, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mrs. Robert Cartier, blood program coordinator at Gate of Heaven, has Co. employees, and the Back Mountain Jaycees will aim for their quotas during this collection. Last year 584 units of blood were collected in the Back Mountain area. 714 units were released to Back Mountain residents in four Mrs. Robert O’Konski stated that volunteers are needed and that she will accept the names of persons who will help with registration and the kitchen. Mrs. William Boyle, RN, “bargaining table while the company has seen fit to keep up a continuous barrage of letters to its employees and countless releases to the news media in an attempt to discredit the union and its leadership. Higgins is president of Fire Co. Conrad Higgins was elected president of the Kunkle Fire Company in elections held Dec. 19. Thomas G. Landon will serve as vice president of the goup; William Jones Jr. as secretary, and Lawrence Hilbert Jr. as treasurer. Jack Dodson will continue as chief of the fire company. Edwin King is assistant chief and trustees include Fred announced that 14 Back Mountain Churches, Commonwealth Telephone local hospitals, Wilkes- will accept the names of Barre General, Mercy, volunteer nurses. Memorial and Mrs. coordinator; Robert Mrs. Gate of Heaven program PTG president. Dodson, Alan Race and Edward Condon. A fire company bership dues collection is now underway. The fire company is also planning a banquet to be held March 6. Bevro drive begins Mrs. Mary Kokinda, president of the Bevro Childrens Foundation Duryea, along with Mayor John Segilia of Moosic honorary chairman of Lackawanna County, and Mayor Edward Joseph of Duryea, honorary chairman of ' Luzerne County recently kicked off the Bevro children’s foundation first fund raising drive. Anyone wishing to volunteer some time in assisting the foundation is asked to contact by writing to: Bevro Children’s Foundation, Duryea Pennsylvania 18642 or by calling 654-8492. Certificates of election issued by the county board of election and court en banc certifying to the election of three new supervisors, Herbert Hill, Daniel Wisnieski and Am- brose Gavigan, were pre- sented by solicitor Ben L. Jones III, at the reor- ganization meeting of the Kingston Township super: visors Monday night. The supervisors were seated, having been sworn in previously by District Magistrate Earl Gregory. Willard Piatt who served PAGE THREE as chairman last year was named permanent chair- man. Edward Hall was ap- pointed vice chairman and Michael Stanley, secre- tary-treasurer, and town- ship manager. Atty. Jones was reappointed as town- ship solicitor. John Dana was reap- pointed zoning and health officer at a salary of $212 per month. Harry Owens was reappointed to his poisition ‘as custodian of the township building at a salary of $166.50 per month. Phil Walters was reelected chairman of Dallas ‘Township super- visors at the reor- ganization meeting on Monday night. Frank (Pete) Lange was was reelected secretary- treasurer, a position he has had since he came on the board. Atty. Frank Townend was reappointed township solicitor at an annual salary of $1,000. Fred Lamoreaux will continue as roadmaster. Four reelected council men were sworn into office, at the reorganization meet- ing of Dallas Borough Council, Monday night, at the borough building. Oaths of office were administered by District Magistrate Earl Gregory to William Carroll, Ken- neth Young, Harold Brobst and Peter Arnaud. Jerry Machell was reelected as president of council and William Berti as vice president. Ralph sGarris was reappointed as secretary and also as superintendent of roads. William Baker was reap- pointed treasurer of the council. The Welcome Wagon Club of Wyoming Valley will meet Monday Jan. 12 at 8 pm. at the U.G.IL Building. Kingston. Final plans will be made for the wine and cheese party to be held Jan. 31. Guest speaker will be Mrs. Elaine Freeman from UGI's Consumer Services. (Guests are welcomed. Police. Chief Don Jones and his patrolmen were reappointed, resigned and withdrew their - resignation all within five minutes at the reorganization meeting of Jackson Township = Supervisors on Monday night. A motion was made by Fred Fielding, seconded by Frank Elenchik Jones submitted his resignation which was not acted upon immediately. The three patrolmen were then reappointed and they also submitted their resignations. Before action could be taken on the resignation, taxpayers present voiced their support of the police officers and Gerald Bernstein, speaking on behalf of some of the residents present, commended the police on their outstanding performance of duty and asked that they rescind their resignation. Fielding explained that there' had been a difference of opinion on the part of the supervisors concerning police salaries but following lengthy discusssion, agreement was made to meet the salary requests of the patrolmen. Andrew Stofko, newly elected 179 E. Main St. 779-1660 Baked Ham Roast Beef Peppered Ham Chicken Turkey “Eres Delivery on’ multiple orders if the community continued to grow as it has during the past few years. He stated that if the township had to have full-time policemen it would cost more than it does for the four part-time men. He went on record that it was his opinion that the present system had been working satisfactorily with outstanding police protection. Stofko replied that only two policemen were necessary and if more assistance needed the township could call in the state police. This brought further protests from the floor and residents indicated they were more than satisfied to have their taxes go towards the present police coverage. Stofko then brought up the matter of paying Patrolmen Bert Balliet’s salary and expenses while attending the madatory police training school. He stated that he objected to doing this. It was pointed out, however, that this had been approved by the supervisors at an earlier meeting. Stofko then moved to rescind the approval to pay Balliett while attending training but there was no second to the motion. Chief of Police Jones and the patrolmen withdrew their resignations and a majority vote by Fielding and Elenchik reappointed them to office. Atty. Ben Jones III presented the supervisors with the deeds for the streets in Fieldcrest, accompanied by descriptions of the roads and the modifications of the 1965 map as approved by the Luzerne County Commissioners, who agreed to changing it from R-1 to C-1. The supervisors passed a resolution to have the deeds recorded by township solicitor, Atty. Blythe Evans. Other reorganization appointments included the reappointment of Henry Zbieck, secretary-treasurer; Fred Fielding, chairman of the board; Frank Elenchik, co-chairman; Jack Bombick, road foreman; Frank Elenchik, assistant road foreman. Robert Culp was reappointed zoning and building officer. and Laing Coolbaugh was reappointed for a three year term on the zoning board. Atty. Blythe Evans was reappointed SOWTIoy, ERICA we, 5, Q- Wz 3D 7276-1919 ’ Meat Ball “Sdusage' Steak | Pr - F 477-9999 eroetie tie rie rie rie TRIE YRRP ROSEY poy Lo 4 AND SABEABTIBTIBEABTIBEIBLIBTIBTIBISIIS LIS Corn-Fed Ham, Grilled Pineapple, Heart of Lettuce Hot Grilled Grecian Bread §& © Route 11 ® 400 Rd.), Edwardsville es-Barre
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