Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-22
TENTH FIRM HIT
ASPARLEYSFA|L
IN AUTO STRIKE
Mechanics Union Leader
Calls Men From SterretS
and Packard Washington.
FEDERAL CONCILIATOR
JOINS IN CONFERENCE
Automotive Trade Body Firm in
Stand to Maintain
Open Shop.

The automobile mechanics strike
spread today to two more firms, the
Sterrett Operating Service, Inc, 80
M street northeast, and the Pack
ard Washington Motor Car Co.
Oliver N. Garrison, business agent
for the mechanics union, which is
demanding an agreement with EN-.
ployers on wages, hours and work.
ing conditions. pulled his union men
off the night shift at the Sterrett
place late last night.
Garrison and an official of the COM
pany agreed that eight men left the
job The company official added, how
ever, that only one or two men were
missing from the day shift on duty
today. The company employs between
20 and 80 mechanics. he said. and had
operated an open shop" without dis
elimination against either union or
non-union men.
Garrison went to the Packard place
this morning to strike" the union
mechanics, following a conference yes
terday afternoon at the Labor De-
partment with Oscar Coolican. presi-
dent of the Packard Co., who also
is president of the Washington Auto
motive Trade Association.
Details Kept Secret.
Details of the conference, in which
Howard T. Colvin, Government con-
ciliator, participated, were not dis
closed. but apparently the conferees
failed to reach an agreement.
Garrison estimated that "a men went
out of the Packard shops. The two
new places on strike bring the num-
Der of firms Involved to TO-
The union is asking for 80 cents an
hour for mechanics, so cents an hour
for helpers. a 44-hour week and time
and-a half pay for overtime.
Meanwhile, the Washington Auto
motive Trade, Association continued
TO maintain its stand for an open shop
In an advertisement printed in The
Star, the organization reiterated its
resolution passed several days ago,
that "the undersigned members of the
Washington Automotive Trade ASCOT
alton, all of whom employ motor
vehicle mechanics. reiterate their
unanimous approval of the open-shop
policy in order to preserve and main
tain it."
Publish Statement.
In their published statement the
trade association members further
declaredt Blacklist onel Blacklist
all! We all stand on the same
ground!"
Strikes have been called in a few
shops said the statement. only
these have been blacklisted. Me-
chanics-some of them employed by us
for years-are walking the streets
many because of the fear that only
strike sympathizers will have jobs.
We're pledged to an open shop and
the merit system - the right of any
man to work. We pay, and have al
ways paid, fair wages.
Some of these men have already
returned to work; others would like
do so so.
Strikes should be called in every
shop, or none; but the public must
have service, and we are going to give
it even if we have to obtain other men
to fill regular jobs in our organizations.
For men returning to work prompt
ly there are still jobs, but the public
interest will not allow us to hold them
open indefinitely"
Oficials of Hill g. Tibbitts. Inc. who
were in conference at the department
yesterday with union officials and Col
win, planned to return for another
parley this afternoon. Union mechan-
les are on strike at Hill g. Tibbitts.