Evening star., 1941-10-15
Iron Age Criticizes
Large Steel Losses
Through Strikes
Declares Union Defense
Program Threatens to
Restrict National Defense

~ the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-Strikes and
Interruptions by other factors have
resulted in large losses in steel pro-
duction invaluable in the present de-
fense program, Iron Age said today
in the weekly review of the steel in
dustry
Events of the last few days have
upheld the position Of steel union
leaders that there are two defense
programs. the national defense pro-
gram and the union defense pro-
gram, the publication stated.
Flash strikes in Woodworking
plants vital to defense (the national
defense program continued this
week in many industrial areas. In
some ways the union defense pro-
gram despite a belated plea by
President Roosevelt for industrial
peace, was, from the viewpoint of
union leaders. making the greater
progress. Fol example. last weeks
strike at Carnegie Illinois Steel
Corps Gary plant resulted in loss,
which cannot be made up, Of 10000
tons of steel ingots, of more than
10000 tons of rolled steel products
and about $4,000 tons of pig iron.
9S Per Cent of Capacity.
"The steel lost in the Carnegie
Illinois strikes, the Iron Age esti-
mates. could have been used to
manufacture 1856 fighting tanks, or
more than 2,2O0 railroad cars. or 81
submarines, or more than a hall
million l55-mm. hoWitzer shells, or
l3 merchant ships.
"Ohio strikers this week continued
to subjugate the national defense
efforts to their particular demands
for jurisdictional rights or higher
pay. The Midland Steel Products
Co. strike went into its second week,
with indications that the wage dis
pute would soon be certified by Fed
eral conciliators to the National
Mediation Board. Meanwhile, this
work stoppage had thrown 5000
Studebaker employees, out of work al
South Bend, Ind, and was threat
ening WHY'S Overland output of
Army "ieeps" The Spicer manu-
featuring plant at Toledo, Ohio, pro-
ducing 10 per cent of combat vehicle
transmiSsions, was idle because c.
I. o. workers refused to handle parts
made by A F L. employees at Spicer's
Hillsdale (MichD plant.
"Ingot production this week is
estimated by the Iron Age at SO per
cent of capacity, a gain of a half
point above last weeks revised rate
Of 975 per cent.
Structural Awards Jump.
For some steel companies the
volume of incoming business is run
ming midway between the August
level. which was the high point. and
the September level which was the
low point in the current movement.
The recent upward trend in book
ings apparently reflects success on
the part of consumers in obtaining
priority ratings for essential re-
uuirements. Distribution of avail
able steel supplies to the most vital
points continues to be one of the
toughest problems ever faced by the
steel industry, a condition which
suggests that eventually direct allo-
cation of steel will replace the
priority system and that some
simpler distribution system will be
developed
Structural steel awards jumped
to $4,000 tons from 8.400 tons last
week. the outstanding lettings being
5000 tons for the Douglas Aircraft
plant at Long Beach, Calf; 4,505
tons for a Navy hangar at Elizabeth
City. N. c.. and 4.200 tons for
powder plant at Choteau. Okla"