The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-10
BACK TO WORK
 MOVEMENT FAILS
So Declares Strike Lead- CTS in Detroit as More
 Plants Close

Pontiac, Mich, July 10.-UP)- A "back to work" movement spon sored by General Motors Corp, il opposition to a United Automobil Workers (CIO) strike was described by the union today as a "complet' failure"
 Hundreds of pickets rnassed at tn, gate of the Fisher Body plant ant said they had forced 1t to close de. spite a company invitation for al workers to return to their jobs. Int union also said that the strike wal being extended to the Cleveland Fisher Body plant.
 The "back- -to-work" movement was regarded by the union as chal- lenge for showdown. An hour after scheduled opening at 8 a. m. (EDT) Walter P. Reuther, director of the General Motors division of the UAW-C1O. said that closing of the Pontiac plant and continued effec- tiveness of the strike at eight other plants indicated the movement had collapsed.
 Close Them Gradually
 Reuther said the Cleveland Fisher plant, which manufactures body dies for Chevrolet, was ordered struck ir continuance of the unions plan to close one or more plants each day until the company agrees to nego- tiate supplemental agreement for skilled workers. The Cleveland plant was the 10th ordered closed. It em- ploy approximately 700 men, bring ing to nearly 1000 the total number placed on strike.
 "The strike will be maintained and extended" Reuther said, "until Gen. eral Motors drops It's n-American refusal to bargian collectively with spokesmen for It's employees"
 General Motors repeatedly has said 1t will not negotiate with tho UAW-CrO in preference to the rival JAW faction, led by Homer Martin and afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor. President Will liam 8. Knudsen of the company said negotiations would be acceptable as soon as a legal authority deter mines which Is the lawful union.
 700 Tickets On Hand
 Approximately TOO pickets gathered at the Pontiac plant this morning. Also present were 50 police under personal direction of City Manager William P. Edmonson to assure safe entry for any workers wishing to go to their jobs.
 A company spokesman said the plant was operating but only few workers went through the picket lines. Tickets and police jostled one another several times but there was no disorder.
 The strike was called last Wednes- day. The union charged that the company had refused to negotiate for @ supplementary contract for tool and die, maintenance, and en- gineering workers. General Motors said 1t could not negotiate with either the CIO or the AFL-affiliated faction of the JAW until the courts or the National Labor Relations Board holds which represents a ma jority of its employed.
 5000 Already Idle
 The strike had idled 5000 in nine plants, and the union announced 1t would be extended.
 General Motors officials said that if the strike did not end today or to- morrow, $500 Chevrolet production workers would be made idle because of dull tools. The strike thus far has not interrupted production of 193s models, affecting only preparations for 1940 models.
 Answering this announcement q UAW-CIO spokesman said: Gen. eral Motors is trying to make the production workers hate the tool and die, maintenance and engineering workers. Knudsen Civilian s. Knud. sen, president of General Motors) says the tool and die strike may throw production men out of work. Like flesh. Knudsen withdraws his loar arrangement in hopes that 1t will stil Shylock who demanded his pound oi up hared of production workers against skilled workers now or strike"