Evening star., 1939-08-06

Auto Strike Settled,
Knudsen Predicts
Good Season
New-Model Production
To Be Rushed as Men
Return to Work
BY the Associated Press.

DETROIT, Aug. 5.-General Mo-
tors Corp, a month behind schedule
because of c. l. O.-United Auto
Workers strike, today prepared to
swing into accelerated production
of 1910 models. and observers pre-
dicted the industry would have
1000, ,000-unit year.
The agreement ending the strike
was ratified by the unions rank and
file membership almost unani-
mously," R. J. Thomas, president
of the U. A. VIC. I. O., announced.
He said there were LESS than 100"
votes against the settlement terms.
The settlement memorandum was
signed by representatives of the
corporation and the union late this
afternoon.
William S. Knudsen, General Mo-
tors president. announced prepara-
tions would be made for a year "at
least as great" as the 1899 production
year, with the corporation en-
ployes receiving approximately $40O,-
900 900 in wages.
Industrial analysts were inclined
to put an optimistic Interpretation
on Mr.. Knudsen's statement and
forecast fatter year than the one
just closing for the industry.
wildcat Strikes" Banned.
Two factors figured in the pre-
dictions. First, there has been a
steady up-trend in consumer de-
mand. and it is believed that the
replacement needs still are far ahead
of production. Secondly, General
Motors settlement with the union
carries a promise of no wildcat"
strikes during the 1910 model pro-
duction season.
Approximately 1900 G. M. skilled
workers who have been on strike
and as many more production work.
ers, forced into idleness because of
the stoppage. will start back to work
Monday in plants in Detroit, Pom
tiac, Flint, and Saginaw, Mich, and
Cleveland.
Among the chief provisions of the
settlement were increases in wages
for tool and die and other skilled
WI AVIS. oooui oIiNC tIldG UllcIc WOulQ
be no dissemination because of the
strike, an extension of the corpora
tion's income security plan to cover
certain skilled workers, and an
agreement that the U. A. VIC. I. o.
should have exclusive bargaining
rights in some plants, estimated by
the union to number AZ.
Hope to Make Up Time.
Walter P Reuther. director of the
U. A. VIC. I. O.'s General Motors
Department, said the agreement
goes a long way toward completing
the elimination of dual unionism
and establishing the U. A. VIC. I.
o. as the exclusive union of the auto
workers. Homer Martins U. A. w.
A. F. L., which opposed the strike,
scoffed at its rivals claims. Mr..
Knudsen. in commenting on the
settlement, said
I'VE want to get everybody back
to work. We want to forget all the
names we have called each other.
We want to put our minds on the
problems Of production. 1t is pro-
duction which pays the grocery bill
for all of us -. We all have the
responsibility of keeping all of us
at work as long as there is work
to do"
In explaining the wage increases
granted under the settlement Mr..
Knudsen said 1t was not a blanket
increase, but applied to men who
have been earning below the mini
mum, or who have been deserving
of a raise, but have not received
a raise"
The General Motors president said
the corporation hoped to make up
in three or four weeks the time lost
because of the strike. Il cannot
say how much time was lost" he
said; Il know we are out OF balance. !"
Claims Held Too High.
Both Mr.. Knudsen and c. E. Will
son, executive vice president of G. NJ,
declared the U. A. VIC. I. O.'s claim
of exclusive bargaining rights in AZ
plants too high" indicating that
in some of the plants claimed the
U. A. WA. F. of L. also has COM
mittees.
Elmer Dowell, General Motors di-
rector for the U. A. WA. F. of L.,
also disputed the claim, maintain
ing that his union has committees in
about half of the plants claimed.
Union officials, in discussing the
ban on wildcat" strikes. pointed
out that strikes could be authorized
if all negotiating machinery had
broken down. These officials pre-
dicted, however, that "the corpora
ton will be reasonable" about con-
cessions to employees.
Mr.. Knudsen estimated that en-
ployes throughout the General Mo-
tors system had lost total of s14,-
10000 in wages either through shut
downs or slackened volume OF work
because of the strike.