The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-15

0VVVIS NOLPOIdtAO1l kg4d4ALS " to decide whether to accept Board recommendations for a
 The unions representatives have accepted the boards settlement plan, subject to ratification by their members a formality. They agreed to postpone their strike after the board early today offered Toe Company 24 hours - until 4:l0 ., m. tomorrow - to reach a deciS- ion.
 The boards recommendations were not revealed and will not be made public until they are accepted or rejected.
 Approximately le0,0oo workers would be affected by the strike. Company officials say that work on $750, 100000 worth of defense con- tracts would be impeded.
 The postponement was announced by William H. Davis, vice-chairman of the mediation board, at 4:30 a. Ya., (5:30 a. rn., EDT) after an IS l-2 hour night-long conference that eliminated Il days of negotiation here.
 Board officials indicated that the major stumbling block was the uniin's demand for 10 cent per hour increase In wages.
 Davis said that If by 4:l0 a. m. to- morrow General Motors has failed to accept its recommendations for a final settlement, these recommen- dations would be made public. Union Men Stand By
 Union representatives here had notified their regional directors in cities where General Motors plants are located to stand by" through out the night for information about the threatened strike. After Davis announcement, they telephoned their locals to prevent shutdown.
 Approximately l60.000 workers would have been affected by the strike. Company officials said that work on $l60,O00.000 worth of de-. fense orders would have been iri- peded, although the union had planned specifically to exempt de- fense workers.
 Union, Company and defense board officials conferred at the mediation boards oftlces all night, taking time out only for dinner. De- fense Chieftain William s. Knud- sen. former president of General Motors, joined the conferences in mid-afternoon and left shortly after midnight.
 At 2:30 e. Yl1., EST, the board told reporters that an announcement could be expected "soon." At 4:30 a. il1., Davis came into the press room and announced the postponement.
 "On the subject of wages" the announcement. said, "after the board had made known to both sides the recommendation 1t would make, the board asked teh parties if they would prefer voluntary arbitration of the point. The answer of the union was in the negative. The ans- wer of the corporation was in the affirmative with an explanation Of It's position.
 Settlement Plans
 Being unable to affect Q coin- plete agreement or to dispose Of the points in dispute by voluntary arbl- tration, the board has made flnd- ings and formulated recommenda- tons for the settlement of the dis. pute.
 "Tiaese recommendations have been accepted by the representa- tives of the United Automobile workers without reservation but subject to ratification by the union membership. ,..
 "The board offered the General Motors Corporation 24-hours-until 4:i0 a. r,l., FTiday-to consider these recommendations, before the expir. ation of which time they will either accept or reject them"
 "At the request of the National Defense Mediation Board the repre- sentatives of the United Automobile Workers have agreed to postpone 24 hours the deadline for their strike, which was set for 2 .. m., this morning.
 "The terms of the boards recon. mendations will not be made public until they nave been accepted or rejected"
 A settlement now rests in the hands of General Motors ofacials. If they accept the boards recon. mendations they will resume nego- tiations with union officials for a new contract on that basis. If they reject them, the board will make public It's recommendations and probably It's findings of fact and let the strike 90 through.
 Another possibility, of course, would be intervention by President