Evening star., 1937-03-21
Chrys|er Strike VIEWPOINTS


In defiance Of the court.
I'VE have offered to continue to
bargain collectively with this union
for It's members in our plants.
I'VE have offered to negotiate with
them on existing seniority rules as
we have in fact negotiated with them
about these rules in the last years.
I'VE have offered to consider with
them shop rules under which they
would continue to act for their men,
bers. We have in fact, been discussing
such rules with them during our
present negotiations in the last two
weeks
"All these proposals, the union has
refused. It's representatives refuse
to agree to anything. They demand
only sole bargaining control
THE seizure of our plants has
nothing to do with wages, hours
or working conditions Everybody
knows that. 1t has been our long
established policy not only to deal
with any one claiming to represent
any OF our employees as representa-
tives OF our employees, but also to
make our plants good place in which
to work. We have dealt with this,
union and other unions. We have
bargained collectively with representa-
tives elected by our employees through
works councils in our plants.
"As result of our policies toward
our employees, wages have been
progressively increased until theyshave
become among the highest in any
American industry. Our rates of
wages today average more than 80
cents an hour.
Pay Given Out Weekly.
"At the request of the employees,
we changed our pay practice some
time ago to weekly pay days instead
of bi-weekly pay days.
The employees themselves were
given an opportunity to say whether
they preferred to be paid on an
incentive basis or on a straight hourly
basis. and the straight hourly basis
was adopted.
"A 40-hour work week was granted
with time and a half for overtime
over eight hours a day and over 40
hours week.
Hundreds Of rates have been ad-
)usted through the process of nego-
tlation and collective bargaining.
"A 5 per cent premium for night
shift work has been put into effect.
Work opportunity throughout the
year has been increased as a result
OF Fall introduction of new models
and the scheduling Of work through
the plants with view to steadier en-
ployment
In addition, the corporation paid
out in 1886 more thc s8,300,O00 in
special bonuses to its employees.
One of the union leaders-Richard
FTankenSteen-state on February 9.
1887. The Chrysler Corp. should
be congratulated upon its progressive
labor relation policy
Leaders All From Ranks.
Il recite these facts for your in
formation. Having worked in a shop
myself, l know what it means to
be worried over the loss of work and
wages. AS you know, every one of us
responsible for the management of
Chrysler Corp. has come from the
ranks. That is why we have al
ways regarded the company's salts
factory relations with its employees
as one of our greatest assets.
One Of the tragic things we face
today is that due to the seizure of our
plants and Offices, where our pay roll
records are kept, We are unable to
pay our employees s2,000,o00 in wages
which Is due them.
up to the time we were forced
out Of our Offices and plants, we paid
on the regular pay days as they came.
1t is impossible under present condi-
tons to figure the pay due employees
as long as the files and records are
not in our possession.
Just as soon as we get back in
our plants and offices and can do
the necessary clerical work, we shall
see to it that this money is promptly
paid.
The plain fact is that you and
we. who have worked together for
many years building up this corpora
ton, are today the victims Of a law
less element which is striving to
tear down all that the corporation
has built up, depriving thousands of
employees, against their own wishes,
OF an opportunity to work to earn a
living, and to support their families
AS l stated to our distributors and
dealers a few days ago, this is not
our problem alone, it is your problem
it is the problem of your friends
and neighbors and of every laW-abid-
ing citizen of this country"