The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-16

threat of strike at the Ryan Aero nautical Company plant at San Diego, Calif., where JAW workers are demanding wage increases. The union empowered the negotiating committee to call strike to enforce its demands but agreed to continue negotiations.
 An agreement to negotiate at two International Harvester Company plants and to postpone threatened strikes at six others was reached by an exchange of telegrams be- tween the company and the CIO Farm Euipment Workers Organiz- ing Committee.
 The Harvester dispute involves an estimated 25,000 workers, some of whom are engaged on defense con- tracts including tractors used to tow army guns.
 The dispute centered around union demands for recognition, elimination of piece work schedules and an in- crease in hour wage rates. The firm agreed to negotiate with the union on disputes at the Chicago Tractor Works and the Richmond, Ind, plant and the union postponed strike dead- lines at the Milwaukee, Wis, and Moline, Rock Falls and Rock Island H., plants and two other Chicago plants.
 At New Castle, Ind, regional di- rector of the CrO United Automo- bile Workers sought assistance of a federal labor conciliator in strike of $500 employees of the Chrysler Corp. The plant was 'eported, with out confirmation to be working on light tanks for the army. The strike was called yesterday in protest against alleged violation of a labor contract when foreman asked men to work during a 15-minute lunch period. The company accused the union of violating the contract by failing to give five days notice be- fore acting.
 One thousand JAW workers at the Weatherhead Manufacturing Co. Cleveland, O., took strike vote to enforce demands for a general To- cent an hour wage increase. The firm holds contracts for $1,0O0, 900 worth of ammunition parts. John R. Cox, company vice president, said | workers already had been offered concessions that would increase pay rolls $120,0O0 annually.
 Coal Movement Blocked
 Movement of coal to Pittsburgh Steel Mills was slowed by strike of about 1900 workers at two Republic Steel Go. mines in the Washington, Pa, district The strike entered its ninth day with workers demanding that the company abandon certain safety regulations. Two hundred workers at a Vesta Coal Go. mine returned to work after one-day walkout in protest against shifts al- lotted them in conference between union and. company officials. The Vesta Co. is subsidiary of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. The strikes were not authorized by the CIO United Mine Workers Union.
 A federal conciliator sought to ter minate a strike at the Babcock and Wilcox Co.,, Bayonne, N. J., plant where boilers are produced for the navy. The workers, who have been on strike since Jan. 3, rejected an offer of a three-cent an hour wage increase and 60-cent minimum. Ends in Providence Providence, R. l., Jan. 16.-(UP)- Gov. J. Howard McGrath announced today that a threatened strike, in- volving 1000 employees of the Narra- gansett Electric Go. and affecting 100000 consumers in the Providence area, has been averted.
 The strike will not take place" :" the governor said. "The parties have agreed to arbitrate an agreement to be drawn by counsel for both sides before Jan. "A, and will be heard by a board of five members, two to be appointed by the company, two by the unions and one by the governor. "
 Officials of Local BIO of the Broth erhood of Utility Workers of New England, an independent union, had set a. m. today as the hour for a strike unless its demands for a IS per cent wage increase were met.
 Electric Power and Light for Providence, Southy County section, the $25, 100000 naval air base under construction at Quonset Point and factories working on defense orders estimated at SIS, 5,0O0,OOO was involved in the dispute.
 Agreement was reached in last minute conference, called by Gov. McGrath. His request for a confer ence was made in a telegram to Federal Conciliator Edward c. Mo- Donald after a meeting called by Mayor Dennis J. Roberts ended in a stalemate. McGrath's conference ended at 3 a. m. after a 3 1-2 hour session.
 Mayor Roberts had announced no interruption of service would be tol- erated and said that if no agreement were reached, he would be forced to take steps. Police and fire depart ments and public health officials were prepared for an emergency and the Narargansett Electric Go. said it | a1xz