The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-08-08

will discuss the situation with heads of the labor. and industry panels, and name an equal number of mediators from each group.
 The mediators then meet with representatives of management and workers involved in the specific controversy. After hearing the views of both parties, they attempt to work out some fair and equit- able plan to avoid a strike and lead to peaceful settlement.
 Operation on Flexible Basis
 If these efforts should be unsuc- cessful, the mediators report back to the general chairman. He may appoint additional mediators, refer the dispute to the full com mittee, or go personally, accom- panied by chairmen of the labor and industry panels, to meet with the highest officials of the conn pany and labor union involved.
 All this negotiation is not ex- pected to consume more than 10 days time. William Green, presi- dent of the American Federation of Labor. first opposed the Toledo plan on the grounds that its oper- ation might require as much as 50 days, and that labor would be the loser by the delay.
 McGrady cited a tabulation by an Ohio newspaper of causes, length, and results of 45 recent strikes in northern Ohio industries, which showed that 100000 work hours had been lost; three men lost their lives, scores were wound- ed and hundreds lost their jobs. Losses to industry and the com munities have been incalculable.
 Would 1t not be better to spend 10 days in mediation efforts in each dispute in the hope of bring ing an end to this situation?" he asked.
 McGrady Ace Conciliator
 McGrady has come to be re- garded as the ace conciliator of the labor department staff. When any labor trouble in New York, San Francisco, Tolodo, or any where else, reaches alarming pro- portions, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins presses the buzzer on her desk and summons McGrady.
 No matter how involved the problems, how unusual the char acter of the industry, how violent the mood of the disputing parties, or how long the hours spent in finding some common ground on which management and workers may meet, McGrady sticks to the task until a truce is made.
 His familiarity with the particu- lar problems of labor in Toledo came from his activities in settling the strikes of workers at the Elec- tric Autolite Company, Chevrolet Motor Company, and Toledo Edi- son Power Company.
 90 Per Cent Efficiency Seen
 The settleemnts worked out in these cases won for McGrady the confidence of all elements in the community, and provided a fertile testing ground for the new plan which he confidently believes will eliminate 90 per cent of strikes in any community where 1t is put into effect.
 McGrady's experience in hand ling labor disputes does not begin with his present service to the gov ernment's labor department. For many years before that, he was legislative officer of the American Federation of Labor, and also par ticipated in scores of labor battles on organized labor's side.
 The Toledo plan Is not proposed to be set up in present emergen- cies where strikes are beginning or under way. but after It's trial pe- riod in Toledo, it will be adopted, possibly with some technical changes, in industrial areas where 1t is desired to avert labor crises in future.