Evening star., 1937-01-05
STRIKE STATEMENTS

Union Leader Hits "Anti-
| Social Policies" of COM
pany-Threatens Strike.
BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, January 5.-The text
Of the letter sent last night to execu-
tives Of the General Motors Corp. BY
Homer 8. Martin, president Of the
United Automobile Workers Of Amer
| lea, follows:
A grave situation has arisen be-
tween the employees Of the General
Motors Corp. and the management OF
such corporation, the seriousness Of
which you must appreciate. This en-
tire situation not only affects the
corporation and its employees, but also
the public. It is for this reason that
call to your attention again the real
issue which exists between the corpo-
ration and the International Union.
United Automobile Workers Of
America.
On December "A, 1896, I forwarded
letter to you requesting that q con-
ference be held between the ofncers
of your corporation and this organ
ization on behalf Of the employees Of
the General Motors Corp. I sug-
gested in my letter that this confer
ence be held for the purpose Of dis
cussing and negotiating certain fun
damental issues which had arisen be-
tween the employees and the manage
ment. These issues, as indicated,
cover the recognition Of the union by
the corporation for the purpose Of
collective bargaining, recognition Of
seniority rights for the purpose Of
maintaining job security for the en-
ployes, the elimination of the speed
up system and the establishment Of
minimum wage which would assure
decent standard Of living to your
employees.
Discussion Declared Invited.
| In your reply, dated December 81
of the General Motors Corp. should
discuss any OF their grievances with
the plant managers. This procedure
you term the system Of collective
bargaining" The justification fol
your proposal was that there Is such q
diversity Of factors among your variou,
plants that it is impossible to have any
general agreement between this or.
ganization and the General Motor.
Corp.
There are two basic reasons why
your proposal cannot meet the problem
at hand:
First, the employees throughout the
plants of the General Motors Corp
have encountered widespread discrim-
ination and wholesale discharges be.
cause of their mere affiliation with thi.
union at the hands Of the plant man.
ayers. In other words, there appear.
to be Nationwide policy on the part
Of the General Motors Corp. not tt
permit the organization of a unior
among the employees. This policy ha.
been i'll practice in absolute violation
of the national labor relations act, ane
also in contravention of the accepted
principles in the United States today
Not until there mas been a discontin,
uance Of such a policy can there bt
any effective discussion Of grievances
between the employees and the re.
spective plant managers.
Second, of course, there are diverse
factors among the various plants oI
the General Motors Corp. But it mus
also be recognized that, with respect
to certain fundamental policies, they
are adopted and fixed by the nationa
executive officers of your corporation
It is with respect to few such funda-
mental issues, which can only be &C.
cepted by the executive officers of your
corporation, that this organization de.
mands a conference with you for thu
Purpose of negotiating the same, look
ing toward national agreement be-
tween the international union, United
Automobile Workers Of America, anc
the General Motors Corp.
Issues Stated.
The fundamental issues, for which
there must be national policy fixed
by your corporation, are the following
/. National conference between re-
sponsible heads Of General Motors
Corp. and chosen representatives of
international union, United Automobile
Workers of America. Such conference
to discuss and bargain collectively on
the following points as basis for ma
tional agreement between the General
Motors Corp. and its employees, as
represented by the international union,
United Automobile Workers of Amer
| lea.
2. Abolition Of all piece work sys-
TENS of pay, and the adoption Of
straight hourly rate in its place.
8. Thirty-hour work week and six
hour work day and time and one-half
for all time worked over the basic work
day and work week.
4. Establishment Of q minimum rate
of pay commensurate with an Amer
lean standard of living.
5. Reinstatement of all employees
who have been unjustly discharged.
6. Seniority, based upon length Of
service.
7. Recognition Of the International
Union. United Automobile Workers of
America, as the sole bargaining agency
between the General Motors Corp.
and its employees, for the establish
ment Of joint tribunals and joint rules
of procedure for the adjusting of any
or all disputes that may arise from
time to time between employees Of
General Motors Corp. and the manage
ment
8. Speed of production shall be mu-
tually agreed upon by the manage
ment and the Union Committee in all
General Motors plants.
Conference Demanded.
| Again, it is with respect to the
foregoing problems that I demand
that an immediate conference be held
between the officers of this organiza-
| ton and the officers of the General