Evening star., 1938-04-03
MURPHY HASTENS
TO Join IN TALKS
ON SEIZED PLANTS
Electricity and Gas Service
Continued by Strikers in
Saginaw Area.
SQUADR0NS FROM clio.
GROUPS AID PICKETING
Entire Section Is Peaceful With
Police Ordered to Stand By
in Dispute.
By the Associated Press.

| ES the Associated Press
JACKSON, Mich, April 2.-up-
wards of 100000 lower Michigan
residents depended tonight on strik-
ing workers of the Consumers Power
Co. for electricity or gas.
The populous Saginaw Valley. twice
plunged into darkness in the past year
by shutdowns ordered by a Committee
| for Industrial Organization union of
utility workers. witnessed an unusual
strike in which the strikers continued
working to maintain service unina-
paired.
Gov. Frank Murphy. who last sum-
mer warned the workers that "the
State will not tolerate" further power
interruptions. hastened back from a
Florida vacation to confer with rep
resentatives of the company and the
utility workers organizing committee
in Detroit Monday morning.
Albert Stonkus, U. w. o. c. director
in charge of the groups which last
night seized four power stations and
two gas plants pledged no Interrupt
! ton OF service-not before we have
had conference with Gov. Murphy"
Strike Scene Peaceful.
The strike proceeded peaceably at
all points today, with dwindling picket
lines guarding closed gates at the
plants from which foremen and COM
pany officials were ousted. Flying
squadrons" of the c. l. O.-afiliated
United Automobile Workers aided the
U. w. o. c. members in picketing
duties at the huge power bottle
neck plant at Milwaukee, near Sagi-
nav. where switches control the flow
OF power from Au Sable River dams
to distributing lines serving q popu-
lation of 100000.
Sheriffs in communities where the
seized plants are located indicated
they did not intend to interfere unless
switches were pulled. State police
had orders to stand by"
| .. w. o. c. leaders ordered the
strike after the breakup of negotia-
tlons with company officials here yes
terday afternoon. A company state
ment said the c. I. O. union demand
ed wage increases: Mr.. Stonkus said
"our only demand" was guarantee
/ against wage cuts and of renewal of
a working agreement.
Complicating the company's posi-
ton are claims of three competing
unions that each represents majority
of the nearly 5000 employees. The
Independent Power Workers Associa-
ton and the American Federation of
Labor Electrical Workers Union each
has petitioned the National Labor Re-
lations Board for an election to DE-
termine bargaining agent.
Dispatcher Issues Orders.
Striking workers in charge Of the
seized power stations were accepting
orders from company load dis
patcher' at Jackson. This dispatcher
said the stations were responding i'm
mediately to his requests for increases
or decreases in power output.
Company engineers expressed fear
that damage and interruption of serv-
ice might result should a snowfall in
Eastern Michigan today turn to sleet.
Maintenance and construction work
was suspended because of the strike,
they said.
Mondays conference called by Gov.
Murphy was expected to bring to-
gether Daniel E. Karn, general man.
ager of the power company; Mr.. Ston-
kus, Adolph Germer, c. I. O. regional
director: George A. Krosgstad. chair
man of the State Department of Labor
and Industry. and Attorney General
Raymond w. Starr or one of his
assistants.
Barrier Is Removed.
One barrier to settlement Of the
strikers differences with the COM
pany was removed today when Circuit
Judge John Simpson dissolved a
temporary injunction which restrained
the management from signing an
agreement with the U. w. o. C. The
injunction had been obtained by the
Independent Power Workers Asso-
citation.
Mr.. Stonkus contended the decision
of Judge Simpson removes the last
technical objections in the company's
part to settlement of the strike"
Meanwhile. Mr.. Karn telegraphed
Gov. Murphy: plants and operations
in the northeastern part of the COM
pany's system are in irresponsible
hands. In the interests Of public
safety we urge you to use your good
Offices to see that these plants and
operations are restored to the control
of the management"
Mr.. Karn also urged the Governor
to ask the N. L. r. B. to proceed with
an election to determine 3 bargaining
agent among the company's employees.