Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-15

been cooperating with the teen
meal schools in accelefating voca-
tional training to help men TO fit
into the new effort 10 turn out
guns. tanks. airplanes and ships
rapidly.
TRAINED IN SHOPS
William s. Knudsen. director OF
the Office of production manage
ment at Washington, told me that
he had great confidence in the
value of training in shops when
men are actually on the job. He
Indicated further that the new
machine tools were so perfect that
men can quickly be trained to OPP
crate them.
The presidential advisers AT
Washington recently disclosed that
there had been total re-employ-
ment amounting to 2,250,0 900 work
ers since last June. The National
Industrial Conference Board COM
puted that defense contracts to-
falling $500, 900. 900 would give
sufficient leverage to swell the
unemployment total to 1000. 900
by next June.
Sidney Hillman. co-director of
the office of production manage
ment, recently pointed out that
the nations factories had ex-
banded their output by "a per cent
between May and December.
WORKERS TAKE INVENTORY
In regard to the availability of
unemployed workers TO fill the
new defense requirements, Mr..
Hillman, who in private life is
head of the Amalgamated Cloth
r ing Workers of America, said:
I'VE have stimulated the for
nation Of moro than . hum
.dred local groups throughout tho
country which are making In
ventories of their resources
with . view to using them for
defense production.
sour second task has been to
provide the training needed by
workers, both employed and un-
employed, to equip them to be
efficient producers. To assist
tho defense industries In meet
Ing their needs we have estab-
lished . Observation-Disclosures
program"
In addition, the defense COM
mission has supplemented the me-
diation service of the Department
of Labor to minimize stoppage OF
work through industrial disputes.
The commission has also had fact
finding men in the field to do pre-
ventive work, detecting grievances
early. As a result, Mr.. knudsen
thinks that strikes have been I'M
important in relation to total re-
suits.
EYE COST OF LIVING
As to whether added total pay
rolls will improve living standards.
this depends In part on whether
the benefits are Offset by q rise In
the cost Of living. The increase in
total living costs has not been
great. Secretary Morgenthau and
his aides. however, are considering
a plan for inducing workers to in
vest their wage increases in treas
ury savings certificates.
The thought has been to put this
on voluntary basis. 1t has been
suggested, however. that if the
unions request it, employers may
be asked to accelerate wartime
savings through deductitng in.
stalment payments intended fol
investment in treasury obligations
from current pay rolls.
PLAN FAR AHEAD
If the broad armament program
continues over a period Of year.
on the basis contemplated and au.
thorized, an inevitable result vii
be that workers will be asked tc
divert an increasing portion oil
their output TO government.
Farseeing employers are already
thinking in terms OF the postwar
readjustment. and. where feasible
a-e seeking TO get their employee,
engaged in armament making
trained for alternate peace-tint
jobs.
There is widespread recogni
ton that the conditions for Tho
postwar readjustment are beins
set by policies adopted and de,
cisions formulated now.