Evening star., 1939-11-22
President Influenced
Cafeteria Strike.
Accord, Is Report
Trustees Agree to
Check or They Had
Planned to Abandon

The reported interest of President
Roosevelt induced trustees of the
Welfare and Recreational Associa-
ton to quiet the recent strike threat
in Government cafeterias by meet
ing union demands to continue the
usual "checkoff" against employees
wages which the trustees wanted
to abandon, one of the latter said
today.
The trustees are underofficials Of
the Government who draw no paw
for their services to the associa-
ton, and at least some, it was said.
are angered at the settlement
which was reached with the United
Cafeteria Employees and United Of
flee and Professional Workers. the
c. I. o. bargaining units in the
Government sponsored establish
ments.
The Presidents presumed desires
it was said, were laid before the
trustees by John M. Carmody, Fed
eral Works administrator, who acted
as conciliator in the dispute, which
was settled last week. 1t is con-
ceded that Mr.. Carmody did not
say directly that the President
wanted the checkoff, but it is added
that he did insist the President
wanted the trouble adjusted and
that as the dispute had boiled down
to the point where the checkoff
was the sole issue, and Mr.. Car
mody had been so advised, there
was but one conclusion to be
reached.
Through an aide today Mr.. Car
mody had no comment" on the
matter.
The Checkoff Plan.
Under the checkoff plan the We'll
fare and Recreational Association
deducts 81 month dues from the
pay of each worker. The money
obtained from approximately sos
union workers goes to the unions, as
In any other dues checkoff plan;
that from about 100 nonunion en-
ployes, who are required to agree
10 this procedure, is given to charity
The trustees agreed to the check
OH last year, but decided that it had
| been wrong" according to a spokes-
man and consequently planned tc
drop it from the new contract. The
unions baked Then, it is said, the
following sequence of events tool
place:
On Tuesday of last week, Mr.. Car.
mody met with the union.
| On Wednesday, he met the trus'
tees. and told them the President
wanted the strike settled, and thai
he himself don't want any strike
around these buildings" He wa.
informed that the check-off ISSUE
was the only one remaining-the
workers got a pay increase-but in
sisted on a settlement of this issue
Nothing was decided upon then.
Asked Presidents Attitude.
The trustees met again Thursday
morning and decided to ask Mr.
Carmody directly If President Roose.
welt wanted them to give in on tht
check-off. w. E. Reynolds, of Fed.
eral Works, a trustee, was asked t.
see Mr.. Carmody on this point
Early that afternoon, in company
with Alan Johnstone, general coun
sci for F. w. A., Mr.. Reynolds re
ported back to the trustees.
He advised them that Mr.. Car
mody was convinced that the Strik'
would take place unless the check
off was granted, and had emphasized
that the trustees were to take sucl
action as would prevent the walkout
There are nine trustees, and al
previously are reported to have beer
opposed to continuing the check-of1
In addition to Mr.. Reynolds, thos'
on the board are: Reed F. Martin
General Accounting once, presi
dent; Frank Birgfeld. Treasury; A
~. Williams, Maritime Commission
c. L. Gable, Interior; Charles A
Peters, Federal Works; G "A. Hol
comb, Veterans Administration
Sam Goodacre, Agriculture, and Ros
j. Rudd, Home Owners Loan Corr