Evening star., 1941-03-14
Edison Plant Strikes
Averfed; Ford Labor
Row Reports Differ
New Bethlehem WoIkout
Threatened; Aluminium
Workers Still Idle
~ the Associated Press.

The threat Of a strike at seven
New Jersey and Pennsylvania plants
Of Thomas A. Edison. Inc, was
cleared away today by union ac-
ceptance of a new contract.
The agreement calls for a per
cent wage increase and a modified
preferential shop. Mel Brant, in
ternational representative of the
c. I. O.-United Electrical, Radio
and Machine Workers of America,
estimated it would increase the
annual wages of 1000 workers by
about $225 900.
The Edison Co. operates six
plants in the Newark area and one
at HellertoWn, Pa The company
makes electrical equipment and has
about 100000 worth of defense
orders.
Ford Election Plan Rushed.
Plans were being speeded for
hearing on the C. l. O.-United Auto
mobile Workers petition for a COL
lective bargaining election at two
Ford Motor Co. plants in the De-
troit area, following conflicting re-
ports of a labor disturbance at the
Ford Rolling Mills and open-hearth
department yesterday. Tentative
plans call for a hearing on the
petition March "a. 1t would involve
some $4,000 workers at Ford'S High
land Park and Rouge plants.
A c. I. O.-U. A. w. spokesman
declared about 5000 employees
stopped work briefly yesterday de-
manding reinstatement of eight
union men fired for union activ-
ity." He said they we're rehired
and work then was resumed. But
Harry Bennett. Ford personnel chief,
denied that work had been halted,
said there only had been "a lit
tie excitement for few minutes
until I got there"
Bethlehem Row Flares Again.
At Buffalo Labor Department
trouble shooter" meets today with
G. L o. leaders and management
representatives in an effort to set
tie a dispute which threatens a
second strike at Bethlehem's Lack
awanna plant.
The conference was arranged by
Conciliator Thomas M. Finn, who
went to Buffalo from Washington
after a leader of the Steel Work
ers Organizing Committee charged
the company refused to negotiate as
provided in a Governmental drafted
agreement which ended a two-day
strike February %.
Nathan E. Cowan, S. w. o. c. sub
regional director, who asserted ear
lier this week that another walk
out is Imminent" said an at
tempt would be made to bring
about an amicable adjustment of
our grievances"
Henry J. Winters, regional direc-
tor of the National Labor Relations
Board, announced a hearing on the
S. w. o. C.'s petition for a collec-
tive bargaining election would be
held March 20.
Other Disputes Tie Up Plants.
Strikes continued to spot indus
trial New Jersey despite settlement
of the Edison controversy. Three
thousand workers remained out at
the Aluminium Co. of America at
EdgeWater; so did 1900 at the Cen
eral Instruments Corp. plant at
Elizabeth and 1000 at the Cornell
Dubilier plant in South Plainheld.
A Federal conciliator expressed
hope for solution" of the alumi-
mum strike, which hangs on union
claim that the company violated
overtime provisions of 1889 con-
tract. The plant makes aluminium
products essential for airplane
manufacture.
At the Cornell Dubilier plant,
which makes radio condensers, A.
r. L. strikers sought wage increases.
The General Instruments dispute
was over demands of the A. F. L.
electrical workers.
ingalls, Strikes Averted.
Signing of a new contract with
A. r. L. structural steel workers last
night ended the threat of a strike
at two Birmingham, Ala, plants of
the ingalls, Iron Works Co., now
fabricating plates for S100.000,00
worth of defense shipbuilding. The
new agreement gave wage increases
TO the firms $50 Birmingham en-
ployes. However, a shipbuilding
subsidiary at PaScagoula, Miss. re-
manned hampered by a strike of $50
A. F. l.. riggers and erectors.
Other developments saw the set
tlement of a dispute at a toluol
plant being built at Baytown, Tex,
and the beginning of strike of 100
carpenters at Navy defense prof.
ect at Key West, Fla.
Spokesman for the 143 building
craftsmen at Baytown indicated the
dispute involved wages, but details
of the settlement were not made
public. The Key West carpenters
asked higher pay also An A. F. L.
oficial declared the men acted as
individuals in leaving the job.
Strike Vote Authorized.
At Oakland, Calf, last night
e. 7. o. union auto workers au-
thorized a strike vote Saturday
against General Motors plants in
Eastbay.
Frank Slaby, G. I. o. local official
said the vote would be taken unless
an agreement was reached with the
management of the Fisher body fac
tory by that time.
The strike-vote proposal had the
unanimous support Of 500 workers"
declared Slaby, meeting as repre-
sentatives of the Fisher body, Chev-
rolet passenger auto, General Motors
trucks and General Motors parts
departments. The strike, if called,