The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-04-07

which began March 3 when U. A.
w. members seized the company's
plants. Feeder companies soon be-
gan to feel the pinch of stop deliv-
cry orders" and many were forced
to close, making thousands of other
workers idle. The Briggs Manufac-
turing company, which m a Ike s
bodies for Chrysler and Ford, shut
down one of its plants, throwing
1900 more out OF work.
Under terms of the agreement,
Chrysler attorneys agreed to ask
the courts to dismiss the action UNI
der which they obtained an injunc-
ton to compel sit-downers to va
cate the plants. The injunction new
er was enforced and the plants were
vacated voluntarily under provisions
of a truce negotiated by Murphy.
Will Soon Be Booming
B. E. Hutchinson, finance chair
man Of the corporation, announced
that within a short time Chrysler
payrolls will be up to 100000 or
100000 and the corporation will
be purchasing $50,O00,0oO of sup
plies"
He explained that the agreement
was the first ever signed by the cor
poration with any union, but that
lit doesn't change the firms policy
other than by putting it in writing
besides in practice"
1.-The agreement is obviously nom
exclusive" he said. Anybody else
besides the U. A. w. asking for con-
ferences will receive them. We have
no intention of trying to undermine
the union, but we will meet and bar
gain with any group which comes
to U.S."
Martin replied:
He means all-inclusive. Whatever
attempt may be made by minor off,
Gals to evade the issue of the plain
meaning of the agreement, they
know and we know that we have
definite and worthwhile agreement
with the Chrysler corporation"
Language of Agreement
Union officials pointed to the fol-
lowing language in the agreement:
1.-THE corporation will not aid, pro-
mote or finance any labor group or
organization which purports to en-
gage in collective bargaining or
make any agreement with any such
group or organization for the pur-
pose of undermining the (U. A. W.
union"
That language, they declared.
placed the U. A. w. ''tn position
of responsibility and exclusive priv
ilege in bargaining with the corpora
ton"
This clause" said Richard T.
FrankenSteen, union organizational
director, positively prohibits or pre-
vents such set-up as the works
council, which was financed by the
corporation4
Governors Next Move
Governor Murphy planned to
turn next to the strikes affecting
1000 employees of the Hudson Mo-
tor company and 2,400 REQ Motor
company workers. No progress has
been made in efforts to settle those
controversies.
Martin would not say whether he
believed the ChrySler agreement
could be used as a basis for settle
ment of the Hudson and REQ dis
putes.
I'VE are, however, hopeful for q
speedy settlement" he said.
The Chrysler corporation agreed
not to attempt to interfere with
the rights of its employees to join
the U. A. w. nor to attempt to
coerce union members. The union,
on the other hand, agreed not to
try to coerce non-member workers
nor to solicit membership on cor
poration time or plant property.
The agreement was signed in
Murphy's offices in the state capt.
toll at Lansing. Chrysler, Lewis and
the governor posed for photograph
erS. Union members. sitting in
the galleries of the house of rep
reSentatlves, cheered when the
settlement was announced.
In addition to Chrysler, the cor
poration was represented on the
document by the signatures of K. T.
Keller, president and Herman L.
Weckler, industrial relations direc-
tor.
Lewis Signed First
Lewis signed first for the union.
a subsidiary of his G. I. o. Martin,
Lee Pressman, C. I. o. counsel, and
Frankensteen added their names.
Lewis planned to address mass
meeting of union members and SYM
pathizerS in the Detroit Fair
Grounds Coliseum at o'clock to-
night to celebrate the agreement.
The unions first gesture against
the Ford Motor company was in a
sit-doWn strike of $500 workers in a
Ford assembly plant at Kansas City.
Although the strike was halted
quickly by union leaders, it indicat-
ed that the sit-doWn tactics used
against General Motors and Chrys-
Ter might became a part of the U.
A. WIS campaign to organize Ford
employees.
When the General Motors strike
was ended in February Lewis de-
Clared:
Ford by Christmas
I'VE will have Ford organized by
Christmas"
Despite that statement, the union
made no move at that time. It
was indicated that the Ford cam
paign would progress slowly, neces-
Sarily so because the union now is
not strongly entrenched in the vet
eran manufacturers River Rouge
plant employing 10000 workers. If
the union started widespread
strike drive against Ford, it would
have to have the support of large
percentage of the River Rouge en-
ployes. -,
It was believed the unions cam
paign for the time being would be
directed toward efforts to shut off
Ford's source of supplies by con-
Quoting strikes in vital feeder" fac
tories.
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