14—Friday, June 10, 1966

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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• Some Unpublished Details of Edison's Proposal to Local 17, IBEW

A strike against Detroit Edison has been
called by Local 17 of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-
CIO, representing 747 of our 9500 em-
ployes. About 450 of the men on strike
are linemen.

Background of the Dispute
The current contract expired May 30.
Since April 7, union representatives have
discussed, in many meetings with the
company, terms of a new two-year
contract.
The union is asking for 20 per cent
more in cash and benefits, effective
immediately.
The company offers a 10.3 per cent
increase in cash and benefits-5.6 per
cent in June 1966 and 4.7 per cent in
June 1967.
This is well in excess of the 3.2 per
cent guidelines urged on industry and
labor by the Federal administration.
The union has rejected this offer.

The Edison Linemen Are Well Paid
Edison linemen are currently paid a base
rate of $8380 a year—guaranteed. There
are no layoffs, and overtime is frequent.
Of our 450 linemen, 355 made over
$11,000 in 1965.
The hourly rate for our linemen, before
the offered increase, is $4.03 an hour. This
is 15 to 25 cents an hour more than comma
parable skilled tradesmen earn working
for representative steel, auto manufactur4

ing and refining companies, and other
major employers in Metropolitan Detroit.
Our lineman rate is 30 cents an hour
more than the average lineman rate of the
three major electric companies close to
Detroit.
In addition, so-called "fringe benefits"
cost Edison $1.06 an hour—$2200 a year
—per employe. This includes life insur-
ance, pensions, health anclinajor medical-
surgical insurance, and Pa'y for time-not- ,
worked (holidays, vacations, sickness,
personal affairs). Edison's fringe benefits
are well above the Metropolitan Detroit
average.

Edison's Offer Is Fair and
Reasonable
In Metropolitan Detroit the cost of living
has gone up 7.4 per cent since January 1,
1961 (Federal Index of April 1966). In
that time Edison's base rate to linemen
has increased by 16.6 per cent, not in- ,
cluding our present offer.
Edison is proud of its linemen. Theirs is
often difficult work. We believe they
should be well paid. They have been and,
with our offer of $4.165 per _hour, they
will continue to be.
At the same time, this company is regu-.
lated by the Michigan Public Service
Commission so far as rates and earnings
are concerned. We have a continuing re4
sponsibility to serve customers well and
at a reasonable cost.
Why, then, a strike against Edison?

Walker L. Cisler,

Chairman of the Board

Donald F. Kigar,

President

