Evening star., 1937-05-17
BODY PLANT. USED.
BY FORD IS SHUT
Order Follows Wa|kout of
1000 at Briggs Unit.
ParIey Is Begun.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Successful In organization efforts
IN the automobile industry, notably
In campaigns at plants of Chrysler
and General Motors, union organ
izers face greatest test at Ford
factories.
Despite confident statements BY
labor leaders, it is generally be-
lieved far more intensive battle
Is in prospect than ,Uas the case in
former organization driues.
Ds the Associated Press.
DETROIT. May 1.-THE Briggs
Manufacturing Co. closed its Meldrum
plant employing 1000 men today fol-
lowing walk-out of maintenance
workers officials conferred with
representatives of the United Auto
mobile Workers to adjust the dispute.
U. A. w. A. leaders said the walk
out, after wage demands were refused,
was not authorized. An agreement
with the Briggs concern, signed April
18, forbids such an interruption of
production. Company officials said
the plant probably would reopen to-
morrow It produces bodies for the
Lincoln-zephyr division of the Ford
Motor Co.
The union is preparing for an in
tensive drive to organize Ford en-
ployes, and also is drafting plans for
. conference on proposed changes in
its agreement with General Motors
Corp.
Combine "Sit In" and Picketing.
In a new maneuver, workers en-
tered the closed Pelton & Crane Co.
tool and die plant today and sat
down" while other union members
formed a picket line outside.
Officers of the company, which en-
ploys IS persons. announced Friday
that the plant would be closed this
week. John Anderson, U. A. w. A.
organizer, said the action violated an
agreement which provided for reduced
hours when lay-of impended
Union officials said the opening Of
two offices in Dearborn, home of the
Ford company, had been deferred un-
til later in the week They indicated
that the postponement WAS caused by
. desire to make something of a
splash" in inaugurating the campaign.
To Confer on G. M. Pact.
Letters to u. A. w. A. locals in Cen
eral Motors cities disclosed the plans
for a conference on revision of the
General Motors agreement. Homer
Martin, president of the International
Union, said the conference will be held
mot later than the first part of June"
but the date has not been fixed. June
III Is the first date on which so days
notice may be given by either General
Motors or the union Of intention to
seek revision Of the agreement
Martin said the conferees also
would seek methods OF eliminating
unauthorized strikes in General
Motors plants.
-Four such strikes affected more
than 10000 General Motors workers
in Cleveland, GAINESVILLE, Wis, and
Saginaw, Mich, last week. All were
back at work today.
Production Resumed,
Production was resumed in the
Chevrolet Grey Iron Foundry and the
6aginaw malleable iron division of
General Motors at Saginaw, where
1000 employees were idle last week.
Rumored attempts Of union employees
to prevent non-union workers from
entering the plants did not develop.
Before Martin left on speaking
tour that will take him to Los Angeles
and Oakland, Calf, he said he ex-
pected no resistance in the unions
Ford organization campaign.
I'VE will use every method we know
to encourage Ford workers to join our
union,' said Wyndham Mortimer,
union first vice president.
Union fanfare in other organizing
campaigns has included use of auto
trucks with powerful broadcasting
equipment, parades, mass meetings,
formation Of feminine auxiliary rally
Ing units, oratory and pamphleteering.
Send Aairplanes Over Plant.
On one occasion the union sent an
airplane over Ford plant to broad
cast to workers changing shifts.
The week opened with Ford making
the Arst move-distribution to its
workers of cards bearing "Fordisms"