;;^^^:i^'^ii5»as;&!4etfci2SSSJJi
Some state crews strike over pay
OLYMPIA (AP) - Washington's first state employee strike made an impact today in the woods, on community college campuses, ir. stste parks and at state government installations. The 3,000-member Washington Public Employees Association, unhappy with pay offers from the Legislature, threw picket lines around state office buildings in Olympia, Vancouver and other cities. Absenteeism was reported in some state agencies. Most of the log-scaling stations in
the timber country shut down in sympathy with the strike and the Department of Natural Resources said if the strike Itsts for more than a few days, income to the state would start drying up. Sealers, who measure the boardfeet in each log as it comes off stateowned land, were honoring picket lines, as were some locals of the Teamsters, Longshoremen and other labor groups. In Seattle, a picket line went up around the state liquor warehouse. Liquor Control Board spokesman
LeRoy Hittle said, however, the strike would have little effect on the public's ability to buy hard liquor and wine at local state-operated stores since the outlets have large inventories. In Aberdeen, the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen's Union Local 24 said it was honoring picket lines. A spokesman said "It's in our contract. We don't cross picket lines." The ports at Bellingham and Port Angeles also were affected by the sealers and longshoremen. Community colleges in Aberdeen,
Vancouver, Edmonds, and Walla Walla were picketed, too. State officials said they were still trying to assess the impact. The faculty at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen voted to honor the strike for two days, but classes were not canceled by college officials. Fourteen state park operations were ordered closed by the state Parks and Recreation Commission after picket lines went up. Campers and visitors were ordered to leave at Anderson Lake, Belfair, Dosewallips, Fort Flagler, Lake
Cushman, Old Fort Townsend, Pemrose Point, Pleasant Harbor, Potlatch, Rothschild House, Sequim Bay, Twanoh, Ocean City and Twin Harbor. The Army National Guard's Camp Murray near Tacoma was picketed. In Forks on the Olympic Peninsula, two logging companies were shut down, affecting between 300 and 400 workers. Meanwhile, the head of the 14,000member Washington Federation of State Employees, AFL-CIO, said his union was "telling our people they are
going to have to exercise their own conscience" as to whether to support the strike of the 3,000-member WPEA. "We will not urge our people to stay off the job, either," said George Masten, adding that the association had not discussed the strike with the union. "We would never expect other organizations to honor our picket lines if we didn't have the courtesy to talk with them about a strike." (Related stories, page 11)
Merchants favor trial of parking ByJOMORELAND
EWP101EES
Of the Union Bulletin
Murphy said inmates who have made threats against guards were being brought to a committee room to talk to a panel of officers and prison administrators.
You might want to practice your diagonal parking — just in case. Walla Walla's Main Street businessmen generally prefer a trial period for traffic changes along the street, according to a Union-Bulletin telephone survey. But only as a trial, they emphasize. And there is still a desire for the return of parking on Second Avenue in some cases. "I'm willing to try anything for awhile — if there's a definite trial period," says Ken Williams, manager of Seil's Shoe Shop, 16 E. Main St. "And then no procrastination when it comes to changing it back if it doesn't work." The mayor's task force on downtown development has proposed a tryout time of about six months for diagonal parking and a 15-m.p.h. speed limit on Main Street. The goal is to rejuvenate the downtown area and its economy, possibly with a landscaped, pedestrian parking mall in the heart of the city. A separate opinion poll has been conducted by the task force. That poll is to be presented Wednesday to the Walla Walla City Council, which will decide whether the trial period will be attempted. Owners, managers or spokesmen for 54 businesses were reached by telephone in the Union-Bulletin survey. All were along Main Street within the area that would be affected, from Palouse Street to Fourth Avenue. Most of the persons — 41 — favor the trial period. Six businessmen are against it. Seven have no opinion. Those for a trial time express a range of reaction, from enthusiasm to "okay, but..." "I think it's the most wonderful thing that could happen to Walla tValla," says Ginny Norens, ownermanager of Ginny's Red Rooster, 13 E. Main St. "We're behind the times. It should have been done 20 years ago." She cites additional parking as a plus factor. "I think it's smarter to try something before you make a total commitment to it, like they have done with a couple of other things like business licenses," says JimShanley. Shanley is the district agent for Northwestern Mutual Ufe Insurance of Milwaukee, 22 E. Main St. Those against the trial proposal are often emphatic. "Thai's ridiculous," says Gary Siegel, manager of Olympic Drug, 228 E. Main St. "In my opinion, they're doing the best they can to keep people from coming here." Problems with diagonal parking and a need to keep the downtown area looking busy were reasons cited by those against the trial period. "Busy-ness — that's what creates business in our business," says Bob lyoseke, owner of The Diamond Shop, 47 E. Main St. "The people corning downtown and driving along. Our business has never been so good and I don't want to change it." Those who express no opinion give several reasons. They include lack of information or comments that any changes would have no effect because of the type of clientele involved. 'We're closing our downtown store and we'll be out in the Eastgate area somewhere," explains a spokesman for Montgomery Ward & Co., 101 W. Main St. Sarn Raguso. owner-manager of the Red Apple Restaurant and Ixmnge. 57 K Main St., know? who will have the ultimate say, regardless of any trial period. 'It's going to be the people's attitude that makes the difference," Raguso says. "In fact, the mall idea could be bad. But if the people think it's good, they'll a<* it"
Biggs said the announcement of Harvey's transfer points up the need for a separate state department of corrections, divorced from DSHS.
(Related story, photo, page 3; Related editorial, column <~artm»n, page 4)
..U B prtufe by Dennis Dimick
Marcella Brittain, local president of the Washington Public Employees Association, found herself on the picket lines at Walla Walla Community College this morning. An accounting executive at WWCC, Mrs. Brittain was sworn into
On strike
her union office just last Wednesday. On Thursday, she notified President Eldon Dietrich that her group might go out on strike. "This is all new to me," she said. "So ! really got off to a good start."
WWCC prepares for strike impact By GLEN GIBBONS Jr. Of the Union Bulletin
Wet pickets, recalcitrant plumbers and administrative concern at Walla Walla Community College were the immediate local effects of a statewide strike called Monday by a stateemployes union. The picket line, set up in the rain this morning by seven communitycollege employes, represents the most visible local effect of a strike called Monday by the Washington Public Employes Association. About half of the college's 57 classified (nonteaching) employes are members of the local WPEA chapter and have joined the walkout. At issue is a disagreement over wages. The union wants a 20-per-cent
increase. The state has offered a 13perncent raise. Dietrich and administrators at the college were attempting today to measure the extent and potential effects of WPEA decision. The strike is new to them, top. "We were saying this morning that everything has happened to the school since (it opened in) 1967 except a strike of employes, and now we have that," Dietrich said. The union's action has created vacancies in WWCC's dataprocessing and business offices, library, student services and custodial departments. But Dietrich said the most pressing concern is WWCC's physical-plant operations such as heating, air-
r
^
Mostly cloudy
msidE today § U B Cijssiftea. 21 23 Comics 20 Gt'sswo'd . 20 De-it Abbv . 20 tcJ'V-.tiais
HWIS.COP"
. ,
Markets . . . 11 11 Qtiituaries. 21 P'-OP!P 13 19 Suorls
.i
Ttn,-sDav
?0
'iV-.-.hed-.iif;
13 .20
k.
Mostly cloudy tonight with showers; lows tonight in the 40s; highs Wednesday 60 to 65. For more weather details see page 1 1 .
ROTC family The Rodriquez children march proudly in the Walla Walla High School ROTC. See page 13. •
-J
conditioning and ventilation. The college and union have a memorandum of agreement that provides for maintenance of those systems by WPEA employes. If employes refuse to service them, the college can then call in maintenance persons. Dietrich also expressed concern that the strike might spread to members of the trades unions working on the school's business-andcommerce building and domed gymnasium. He said several plumbers refused to cross the WPEA's picket line this morning. Other craftsmen, however, continued on the job. The gymnasium, needed for fall sports, already has been delayed by a
lengthy plumbers' strike. The memorandum of agreement alsu provides for voluntary employe assistance in maintaining public health, safety and security of the school. Dietrich said that means "we won't get all the vacuuming done but we'll keep the lavatories clean." Students cannot be called on to replace WPEA personnel unless they are needed to perform the "necessary services" mentioned in the memorandum, he said. Since the WPEA is a statewide union and state government is the employer, local college officials can do little to consider the union's complaints, according to Dietrich. Olan Long, a maintenance-
department employe on the picket line, noted this when he said, "We do not have a grievance against the administration of the college.'' Marcella Brittain, president of the local WPEA chapter, said she doesn't know how long the college workers will strike. "That's up to the legislature." Walla Walla's state liquor store will be open today, although picket lines at state liquor warehouses may affect delivery of new supplies, according to Les Andersen, assistant store manager. Most state employes in the area, including prison guards and liquorstore clerks, are members of other unions and not now involved in the strike.
Carter wants strong Europe LONDON (AP) - President Carter told the NATO allies today Western Europe needs more military muscle because Communist forces are much stronger than they need to be to defend the Soviet Bloc. Making his debut as the leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Carter told a special summit meeting of the alliance the United States is ready "to make a major effort" to improve NATO's strength, and he urged the other 14
members to join in. Carter called for a committee of NATO defense ministers to study the military status of all alliance members and report at another summit meeting in Washington next May. "The threat facing the alliance has grown steadily in recent yaars," Carter said. "The Soviet Union has achieved essential, strategic nuclear equivalents. Its fEuropean) theater n u c l e a r forces have been
strengthened. The Warsaw Pact's conventional forces in Europe emphasize an offensive posftire. "These forces are much stronger than needed for any defense purpose. Since 1985, new ground and air weapons have been introduced in most major categories: self-propelled artillery, mobile tactical missiles, mobile air-defense guns, armored personnel carriers, tactical aircraft and tanks. The Pact's buildup continues undiminished."
Guards say chance for riot at prison increases James Harvey, associate superintendent of custody at the Washington State Penitentiary, may not leave after all. Meanwhile, guards at the institution have charged that an announcement of his transfer Sunday by Dr. Harlan McNutt, head of the Washington Department of Social and Health Servicts, has heightened the chance of a riot. McNutt's announcement came on the heels of demands for Harvey's removal by striking inmates and a recommendation he be fired by a member of a governor's blue-ribbon panel. A.J. Murphy, prison information officer, said today that the announcement made it appear that Harvey was removed at the inmates' request. As a result the associate superintendent may stay on at the "He doesn't like that kind of a stigma. He has been offered to go
over there (to a state correctional center at Shelton) and indicates he's not sure," Murphy said. "He's been assurred by Dr. McNutt he can go over there. The job is there if he wants it Or he can stay." Harvey was unavailable for comment this morning. Prison guards are concerned that reports of Harvey's transfer have been taken for a "victory" by the striking convicts. The inmates have been on deadlock, or confined to their cells 24 hours a day, since April 10, when a mob set fire to the prison chapel and looted the prison's snack bar and store. The inmates claim the lockdown is a self-imposed strike in protest of conditions at the prison. "The convicts read between the lines. They think, 'We got rid of Harvey,' " said Correctional Officer Harley Edwards. The convicts demanded Harvey's
and Warden B.J. Rhay's removal because they have been tightening up the institution in the wake of a prison reform movement of the early 1970s. When he announced the transfer, McNutt said it w,-is based on a request Harvey made before the strike began. He said Harvey had performed "satisfactorily." "The convicts read it, 'We got our way. Olyrnpia prettied it up,"" Edwards said. "Either McNutt did it deliberately to appease the convicts, or he didn't have enough experience in the corrections field to know how the convicts would take it." According to Correctional Officer Tim Delp, the inmates have been quiet since McNutt's announcement That is an indication of trouble when the lockdown ends, he said. "This is the calm before the storm. We're in the eye right now," he said. "I had a convict say, Ycru guys are awful bulky for having lost your
teeth,' referring to Harvey," Edwards said. "They said, 'We'll sit down till June if they'll get rid of Mr. Rhay. This lack of experience bolstered the convicts' egos. They think they did it. "Something's wrong. Anyone with experience in corrections would have known the way the convicts would have read it." Guard Henry Baladez said the guards will stand behind a vow made last week to walk off their jobs if Harvey is forceably removed. "Mr. McNutt and (state corrections chief Harold) Bradley can come down and feed these people. We ain't going to have enough men down here to do it," Edwards agreed. Similar criticism of McNutt's action was leveled Monday by the Walla Walla County Prosecutor Art Eggers and Deputy Prosecutor John Biggs. "I'm sure the inmates coasider it a great victory. Too many victories have been written in blood," Eggers
said. "The reason we haven't had a rash of homicides — We had had four or five a year since Conle 'the DSHS director who began the prison reform movement) — was that Mr. Harvey locked all those people in maximum security — the troublemakers," Egeerssaid. Officials at the prison this morning began attempts to defuse a possible riot when the lockdown ends. Th(: deadlock is expected to be removed sometime within two weeks.
iWSPAFER?