The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-11
STRIKES STILL
 INJURE DEFENSE
They Are Developing Daily in Many Plants Doing
 Defense Work
lBy United I,ressl

A strike of 1,700 workers at the Midland Steel Products Co.,, De- troit, halted production today on material used by the three largest automotive companies for defense purpose.
 The CIO- tied Automobile Workers ordered a walkout yester- day. Union officials said the com- pany had rejected demands for elimination of piece work. A pay in- crease also was demanded.
 The plant supplies automobile frames for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, including truck frames for U. s. army transports. The com pany said 1t was engaged in "de- fense production" and Edward M. Owen, a Michigan labor conciliator, said he had notified the JAW a week ago that Midland Steel was a defense industry.
 When the union filed notice of intent to strike February 27, Owen said he insisted on 30-day "cool- ing of" period as required by Mich igan law in disputes involving de- fense orders.
 Charles Bethel, JAW organizer, discounted the defense orders as "one small contract for army truck side rails" He said the order re- quired the labor of four men less than two days month.
 The Michigan labor department planned Immediate study" of the strike to determine the extent to which automotive production might be disrupted.
 Plant Shut Down
 At Plainheld, N. J., 6 strike of AFL electrical workers shut down the Carnell- -Dubilier Electrical Corpy which holds $500 ,000 worth of de- fense sub contracts. The plant em- ploys 2,400 workers. The union asked wage increases.
 High wages also were sought in the walkout of 1,500 CIO-steel work CTS at the J. c. Brill Co.,, at Phila- delphia. The plant holds a $4l7,66l government order for gun mounts and ammunition.
 A notice of intent to strike was filed by members of the C1O-Urited Salt Manufacturing Co, Wyandotte, Mine Workers at the Pennsylvania Mich. Director General William s. Knudsen of the office of production management notified the union and the company that continued opera tions were "vital" to national de- fense and asked for settlement ne- gotiations.
 The plant employs $50 men and supplies chemicals to the army and navy.
 Strikes were in progress at 28 plants holding defense orders, in- yolying at least $100, ,000, coo govern nent contracts.
 Developments
 Los Angeles-Bethlehem Steel cor poration's fabricating plant closed by a strike of 120 CIO-steel workers demanding wage increase. Plant produces sheet metal for airplane factories.
 Baytown, Tex. - AFL engineers and iron workers call l50 workmen from refinery construction at Hum ble oil and Refining Go. Delays SIP 900 900 tuluol plant essential to explosives.
 Fairmount, W. Vo., - Fairmount Aluminium Co. plant closed by strike of 200 CIO members. Union charges company declined to discuss griev- anceS.
 Miiwauke ;e-Allis- Chalmers Man ufacturing Co. plant holding $4S,- 900 900 worth of defense orders re- mains closed by CIO-UAW strike involving 7,8OO men. Government settlement efforts unavailable.
 Chicago - Negotiations between CIO-farm equipment workers and International Harvester Co.,, in stalemate. Four Harvester plants remain closed by strikes, keeping l3, 900 men and $lO,0Oo,OO0 of defense orders idle.