Evening star., 1934-03-21

ence," said Collins, they can 90 ahead
with their strike"
Since member companies of the Ma
tlonal Automobile Chamber of Com
merce, which includes all major COM
panleS but Ford. signed the N. R. A.
code, there has been works councils.
company unions or other vehicles of
employe representation in most plants.
Company executives have said re-
peatedly these ntra-plant organlza-
tionS were formed voluntarily by the
employees and that 80 per cent of their
suggestions have been accepted by the
arrangements. Some Spokesmen for
the employees have declared the ar
rangement satisfactory and the COM
panies have insisted they are con-
forming to the N R. A. requirement
for collective bargaining.
Opposed by A. F. of L.
American Federation Of Labor Of
ficlals, however. have contended such
company unions are not effective as
a means Of collective bargaining, that
the workers have expressed a prefer
ence for the federation a inflated
union and that the companies re-
sorted to discharging employees known
to have Joined outside unions. That.
they contend, is a violation of the
N. R. A. code.
The United Automobile Workers
Federal Labor Union began recruiting
members seriously only a few months
jr,f far, 1f, L.
is a moot question. but Collins has
said that $4,000 men in Detroit.
Pontiac, Flint and Lansing would heed
a strike call. He said there were so
locals in the four cities.
In the same area there are an esti-
mated 100000 automotive employees,
the largest number since 1929. for the
industry within recent weeks has
swung into high-speed production
with the largest backlog of dealers
orders in the history of some of the
companies.
Company executives. declaring the
American Federation of Labor is at
tempting to get control of the auto
mobile industry. have pointed to a
recent 10 per cent reduction in work
ing hours with a commensurate wage
increase and to previous wage ad-
vanceS which, they say, has brought
wages in the industry almost to the
1928 level
Willing to Drop Issue.
Union officials assert that only by
a bona fide plebescite, in which every
employe could vote his choice of
union representation, can the N. R. A.
collective bargaining provision be
complied with. They have said that,
should such a referendum show a
preference for the company union,
the A. T. of L. will bow it way out
of the picture"
Two weeks ago promise OF media
ton by the National Labor Board
won a postponement of the strike not
many hours before it was to have been
called. A hearing in Washington and
subsequent conferences failed to close
the breach between the employers and
employees on the question of union
recognition. A demand for a 20 per
cent wage increase also is a basis
for the threatened strike. but that Is
considered secondary now.
The industry in recent weeks has
recovered from the effects of a tool
and die makers strike last Fall which
delayed preparation of tools and dies
for the current models. The tool and
die makers are not directly involved
in the present trouble
The Ford Motor Co. has kept out
of the strike picture. 1t may, how
ever. be affected indirectly, for the
Bower Roller Bearing Co, employing
1920 persons, virtually shut down be-
cause of a strike, has a large contract
to supply the Ford company with
bearings and many other automotive
parts, and body firms in this area
sell to that company.
Collins said 5000 of the 10000 Chew
rolet employees had voted to strike;
that 1000 of the $4,000 Hudson en-
ployes would strike. and that 5000
would strike in the Buick plant
MILLINERS PULL HAIR.