Evening star., 1941-11-11
Union Officials Seek
Settlement Of Strike
On II Navy Projects
Son Diego Leaders
Hope to End WoIkout
Of $500 During Holiday

By the Associated Press.
SAN DIEGO. Nov. 1l-While aug
mented guards patrolled naval de-
fense projects where A. F. L. build
ing tradesmen we're on strike, union
officials conferred today in an ef-
fort TO reach a settlement salts
factory to our people and to the
Navy"
The walkout. involving s35 900 900
in hangar, barracks. dry dock and
other defense construction. was de-
scribed by Rear Admiral Charles
A. Blakely, 1lth Naval District COM
mandant. as revolt against the
United States Government
The Navy reported that some $500
workers failed to return to their
/ jobs at IL projects Yesterday. Union
leaders, pointing out that the men
would have been idle today in any
event because of Armistice Day, said
they hoped the dispute might be
settled by tomorrow.
The Navy Department in WASH
ington said Admiral Blakely had
been instructed to have naval and
marine guards available to protect
Government property and MAIN
tain order should civilian authori-
ties be unable to do So Guards
were quadrupled at the gates of the
II projects. There was no evidence
of violence, however, and no for
mally organized picket lines.
Back-to- Work Orders Reported.
Building Trades Council crafts
men have asked 81 a day pay raise
to scale ranging from 81 for COM
mon laborers to sl2 for electricians.
The Office of Production Man.
| agement said it was informed that
international presidents of the seven
unions involved had sent orders to
their locals here to return to work
Officials of the locals said, however,
that such orders had not been re-
ceived.
Admiral Blakely said the Navy
will take full constituted authority
to suppress this revolt" declaring
labor leaders, by yesterdays work
stoppage. were now defying only
one contractor-the United States
Government" He added: Il fully
intend to see that certain San Diego
labor leaders do not bludgeon the
United States Navy"
In Washington. Acting A. F. L.
President Richard Gray said he was
advising union leaders here that
the strike was a violation of the
stabilization agreement between the
building trades department and
the Government.
K. G. Bitter, secretary of the
Building Trades Council. charged
that the Navy was trying to inter-
fere with collective bargaining rights
guaranteed labor by the Walsh
Healy Naval Contract Act.
IF any of our men were in re-
volt against the Government" he
told interviewers, wed be the first
to expel him.
"We feel that our men are en-
titled to more money. We would
feel the same even if no govern
mental agency were involved. 1t
just happens that the Navy is in
volved. We have the right to ask
for money and We are merely max
ing an effort to have the Navy rec
ognize the wage scales We feel we
are entitled to-"
Mr.. Bitter said Harry Malcolm,
Federal labor conciliator, had been
called here from Los Angeles by
the unions and informed of the
demands.
Observing some settlement was
being sought that would be 'satis-
factory to our people and to the
Navy, as we'll as meeting the ap-
proval of the public" Mr.. Bitter
said:
I'VE hope to go back to work We'd
nesday morning with what we are
rightly entitled to-"