Evening star., 1941-03-29
knox-knudsen
Bdck.to.Work
Plot Charged
Harvester Cancels
Reopenine; BIomes
Non-Co-operotion
Earlier Story on Page AID

P TIE Associated Press.
voted in Milwaukee today to con-
tinue their strike against the Allis-
Chalmers Co. until the Government
compels the company to accept" a
settlement proposed by the Office of
Production Management.
The union charged Secretary of
Navy Knox and o. P M Director
Knudsen with conspiracy to force a
"so-called Government-sp sponsored"
back-to- work movement.
The union declared it would not
return to work until it receives the
union security which the United
States Government has promised us.
The union asserted that o. P. NJ
had promised to force the company
to accept union security provision
if the union agreed to settlement.
The vote was taken at a closed
meeting while other employees were
back on the job. At the request of
the Government, the huge plant re-
sumed operations yesterday on s45,-
100000 of defense orders.
Announcing the vote. Arthur
Richter. union attorney. said there
was only sprinkling of opposition
to prolonging the strike. The Gov
ernment had asked the men to re-
turn to work while negotiations for
a settlement continued.
Harvester Opening Cancelled.
In Chicago, an official of the In
ternational Harvester Co. announced
the company had Cancelled its plan
to reopen on Monday the Chicago
tractor plant and the plant at Rock
| Falls. Ill He said the reason for
! the decision was lack of union CO.
operation.
The company had announced its
plans to reopen the plants, which
have been closed by c. I. o. strikes
since January, after William H.
/ Davis, vice chairman of the Media
ton Board, had telegraphed plea
to both the company and the union
that work be resumed.
At a mass meeting last night the
union voted TO ask certain guaran-
/ tees as prerequisite to returning TO
! work
Harvester officials studied these
demands and then began drafting
newspaper advertisements canceling
the reopeningS and explaining why.
Vanadium Farley Tomorrow.
While these developments on the
strike front we're taking place. a
hitch developed in the Defense Me-
diation Boards plan to hold its first
hearing on one of the four labor
cases referred to it yesterday. A
panel of the board and representa-
tives of the Vanadium Corp. were
| present, but it was discovered that
union officials had not received no.
tice of the meeting in time to be
present.
wi Laws Suid OllS iilS "ou"
be held tomorrow. The board seeks
resumption of operations at the
plant pending negotiations for
settlement of the strike called by
| the c. I. o. Vanadium Workers of
America.
| In Pittsburgh c. I. O. Regional
Director Anthony J. Federoff said
the strikers were willing to comply
with the boards request" for re-
sumption of production, but that
company heads ran off to Wash
ington without making any overtures
| to the union"
Allis- Chalmers Issues.
The AlliS-ChalmerS strike turns
on union demands for union Sc
curity, wage increases and seniority
adjustments The company has said
it would negotiate on all questions
except the union shop.
The o. P M. proposal advanced
in Washington conferences several
weeks ago suggested appointment of
referee to adjudicate all future
disciplinary disputes.
At that time, the union claims,
it's leaders were given assurance by
John Owen, an assistant to Sidney
Hillman, co-director of 0. P. M,
that the proposal could be inter-
preted as providing for maintenance
of union membership.
However, Mr.. Hillman submitted
a memorandum which stated the
agreement should not be construed
as closed or all-union shop grant
or as device by which a mans
job would be dependent on member
snip In the union"
Plant Reopened Yesterday.
While the representatives OF U
A. w. and the company voiced
acceptance of the agreement here
dispute developed later between
the local union and the company
over its Interpretation. Negotiations
collapsed.
The plant remained closed anc
the Wisconsin Labor Board con-
Quoted hearing on company
charges of unfair labor practices by
the union A handwriting expert
studied the unions January 81 strike
vote and testified 40 per cent of the
ballots were fraudulent.
Informed of its testimony, Secre-
tary Knox and Mr.. Knudsen early
this week instructed the COMPANY
to reopen the plant Immediately
and directed Harold Christoffel
local union president. to cooperate
in obtaining speedy resumption ot
defense production.
The factory was reopened yester.