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
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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
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