Evening star., 1941-03-29
New u. ). Board
Meets 10 Tackle
Strike Tie-ups
Mediotors Stort
Negotiations in
Vunudium WoIkout

Dy Ut Z hSAOCld LeO BTeSc-
The new National Defense Media
ton Board began its work here to-
day, tackling the issues of a pro-
tracted strike at the Vanadium
Corp. at Bridgeville. Pa.
The company, which employs 400.
sent representatives but the c. 10.
union involved, through a tele-
gram mixup, was not represented
as the hearing got under way.
In Pittsburgh C. I. o. Regional
Director Anthony J. Federoff said
the strikers were willing to com
ply with the board request" for re-
of production at the
strlke-bound plant, but that COM
pany heads ran off to washington
without making any overtures TO the
union"
Mr., Federof said the local presi-
dent Of the Vanadium Workers
Union did not receive a notice of
the board hearing until today. but
the union intended TO send repre-
SentatlveS to Washington. The
strike, which he has said violated
the unions contract, was called in
protest against the hiring of five
non-unlon plant guards.
New Jersey Strike Up Later.
Scheduled for consideration latr-
today was the case of the A. F. of l.
Electrical Union and the Cornei
DublIler Corp. at South Plainfeld.
N. j. Management and union rep
reSentatives discussed the issues all
night and then today asked, unsuc-
ceSsfully, for postponement of the
hearing. The firm is a subsidiary
OF the Condenser Corp.
Present when the Vanadium con-
ference started were w. H. Davis.
vice chairman of the board, repre-
senting the public; Thomas Ken
nedy, representing labor. and Roger
D. Lapham representing manage
ment, and the following company
representatives: J. Ralph Davis.
vice president. New York City:
Spencer c. King, general manager.
Bridgevllle, and Thomas G. Rickett.
attorney, Niagara Falls. N. Y.
Officials said board members
would attempt to reach an agree
ment with the company under
which work would be resumed pend
ing mediation efforts.
Harvester Meeting Called.
The c. I o. Harvester workers
meet tomorrow TO decide whether
to go back to work as requested by
the board and whether to meet with
the board and company officials here
Monday. The union seeks higher
wages and other concessions.
A strike at the Midland Steel
Products Co. Detroit, important to
the automotive industry, was ten
tatively settled yesterday after 18
uncertain days. C. l. o. union
members act today on proposal
including a scent hourly pay raise.
C. 1. o. and management also
reached an agreement affecting l.
400 workers at the plant OF the
Universal Cyclops Steel Corp.
Bridgeville. Pa. The five weeks
strike had been turned over to the
Mediation Board for settlement.
Reopening of the plant, vital to de-
fense. was forecast yesterday.
The agreement was submitted to-
day TO vote by the 1,500 employees
Union officials said they felt sure
members would accept the agree
ment and the plant would resume
full production early next week. The
voting will last until midnight.
The workers struck demanding
25 per cent wage increase. Under
the compact reached fact-f1nding
committee consisting of a Govern
ment labor concihator, a company
representative and a labor repre-
sentative will make a decision on
wages that will be binding.
Bethlehem Troubles Continue.
Settlement of the strike at the
Bethlehem Steel Co.'S huge plant at
Bethlehem, Pa. however. did not
end the firms labor difficulties.
Threat of strikes at three Beth
lehem Shipyards in New York Har-
Dor Waned today after union workers
in two Brooklyn yards failed to
approve walkout proposals.
Shipbuliding workers at the third
yard, in Hoboken, N. j., authorized
strike, but tempered this move
by instructing their leaders to sub
NIT the dispute to Federal con-
ciliator on Monday.
In Brooklyn Local 13 of the In
dustrial Union of Marine and
Shipbuilding Workers of America
(C.I.O) voted to appoint a COM
mittee to confer Monday with James
Fitzpatrick of the United States
Cancellation Service A number of
members, estimated by police to
total 400, walked out of the meeting.
At Hoboken Union Organizer
Charles Brecht announced that / 200
members of Local Is voted unani-
mously to empower their Negotia-
tions Committee to call a strike if
necessary in current wage nego-
tiationS
Resumption of work at Bethle-
hens Johnstown, Pa, plant Mon
day was forecast by Federal labor
conciliator Steel Workers Or
ganizing Committee members walked
out yesterday because of an elec-
ICaa STDTKrC pooa AoI