Evening star., 1937-01-05

eral Motors units closed by strikes.
Six others have been shut In whole
or In part because the strikes Gre
ated . shortage Of needed materials.
The Toledo branch employed nearly
1000 persons. Most Of the night shift
left the building, but . union leader
said 40 met sat down and remained
inside. Kenneth Cole, secretary Of
the u. A. w. A. local, said the strike
was called in connection with the
others in General Motors plants.
With one exception. the strikes IN
General Motors divisions have been
conducted without violence. Two
union pickets and . policeman were
hurt slightly yesterday in a scufle
at the strike-closed Fisher body plant
in Cleveland.
Slightly under $4,000 employees Of
the huge corporation were idle due
to the strikes and shutdowns which
closed Is plants.
Strike headquarters at Flint, Mich,
estimated that 2,100 men were inside
the two Fisher body plants there, but
company officials said the number
did not exceed TOO. The union said
that members had returned to the
buildings, entering through windows
and that three times as many men
were in the factories as when the
strike began.
The union employed chef to direct
the task of preparing meals for the
"sit down" strikers.
General Motors officials estimated
that increased shortages Of materials
would find $4,000 Of its employees
idle by the end of this week. The
corporation said this would mean a
daily wage loss of 100000 and
daily net profit reduction Of $330,000
to the firm.
The So domestic plants Of General
Motors are located in IS cities in IA
different States. It has more than
100000 employees in the United States.
Plants Closed.
The plants closed by strikes are:
Two Fisher Body at Flint and one
each at Atlanta, Kansas City. Cleve-
land and Norwood, Ohio; Chevrolet
at Toledo and Norwood; Guide Lamp
Co. at Anderson, Ind.
Those completely idle or where
operations are restricted: Chevrolet
at Atlanta. Kansas City and Flint;
Buick at Flint, Delco-Remy at Ander-
son, Hyatt Roller Bearing at Harrison,
N. j.
The unions Board Of Strategy,
empowered to declare q general strike
against General Motors II 1t con-
sidered this necessary to accomplish
the objectives outlined by Martin,
continued its sessions at the U. A. w.
A. headquarters in Detroit. The out
come Of its deliberations were not
| revealed.
Members Of the local union at the
Cadillac and Fleetwood body divi-
sions in Detroit asked the union for
permission to call q "sit down" to-
morrow.
Union headquarters said it asked
them to hold of until we all sit down
together, If that Is what We decide to
do" The Cadillac Fleetwood local
approved the authority given the
Strategy Board to make the unions
decision.
Department Of Labor officials In
Washington kept in cose touch with
developments in the auto-labor sit
uation. Observers for the depart
| ment were on the scene in some Of
the strike centers. Edward F. Nc
Grady, Assistant Secretary and the
departments chief mediator, said the
Labor Department was ready to help
arrange an amicable settlement.
President May Intervene.
Washington labor circles expressed
the opinion that President Roosevelt
would intervene If the union calls a
general strike against General Motors.
United States Senator Robert M.
La Toilette sent two representatives Of
his Civil Liberties Committee to Flint.
Michigan's new Governor, Frank
Murphy, also was keeping informed
on the situation and declared after q
conference with union officials that
there is not going to be any violence
in this State"