Evening star., 1941-02-28

EN the Associated Press
Workers at the Bethlehem Steel
Corp. plant in LacksWanna. N. Y,
ended their tWO-day strike at 1913
am. today after unanimously ap-
proving a Government-d drafted for
mula for settlement.
Their action came after they we're
told by union leader at mass
meeting the agreement is 100 per
cent in our favor"
The cheering employees immedi-
ately left their seats, paraded and
danced in crowded Memorial Hall.
Earlier, Van A. Bittner. Steel
Workers Organizing Committee
&C. 1. o. director. said the company
and union officials had agreed to
ratify three-point program SUBJ
mitted by the Office of Production
Management to end the strike.
Company Declines Comment.
Company officials. however. de-
clined comment on Mr.. Bittners
assertion.
The program. signed by William
S. Knudsen and Sidney Hillman, di-
rector and associate director of the
o. P M. asked both union and
company 10 agree:
l. All employees of the plant be
fully reinstated as soon as resump-
ton Of operations will permit. 2. A
conference be held to seek adjust
ment of differences. 3. The o. P. NJ.
explore with the Labor Board the
possibility of holding an election to
determine a bargaining agent.
The strike started at pm. We'd
nesday and was marked by sporadic
outbreaks of violence
Men to Go Back at Once.
Mr.. Bittner, in charge of organiz-
ing employees in Bethlehem's mills,
working on 81 $1,5OO.OOOOOO in defense
contracts, said the employees would
return to work Immediately.
The union had asked for COL
lective bargaining election, an i'm
mediate conference TO settle grew
anceS and reinstatement of workers
who had been indefinitely sus-
pended by the company. An earlier
demand was for a % per cent wage
boost
! John v Rife, assistant to Mr..
Bittner. told the enthusiastic work
ers. We are here to celebrate the
; greatest victory that has ever been
won ir the history of the labor
movement in this or any country
Mr.. Bittner said the Government
/ did not believe We could close the
plant, but we did"
Mr.. Rife termed the settlement
100 per cent in our favor"
Policeman Hurt in Melee.
/ Tensity of the situation increased
last night. Police officials increased
their guard after a melee in which
patrolman was injured. Edward
F. EntWisle. general manager of the
mill, announced he had telegraphed
/ Gov. Lehman for State police to
( suppress continued disorders
Mr.. Hillman announced he would
take additional steps today toward
settling another Strike-that at the
AlliS- Chalmers Manufacturing Co.
Milwaukee. which has tied up pro-
duction of S45,000,000 in defense
equipment for more than a month.
He arranged a conference with
high officials of the c. / O.-United
Automobile Workers Union on the
matter.
Dewey on Way to Ford Strike.
At Detroit Ford Motor Co. off,
cialS and officers of the United Auto
mobile Workers-C. I. o. awaited
today the expected arrival from
Cleveland of Federal Conciliator
James F. Dewey, assigned to mediate
in the threatened strike against
the three Ford plants here.
The plants. which employ up
wards of $4,000 workers. have $148,-
100000 in defense orders.
Mr.. Dewey. an ace troubles shoot
er who mediated the 1887 automotive
Sit-down strikes, was ordered to
Detroit by Secretary of Labor Per-
kinS. He will confer first with
Ford officials and then with union
representatives.
Governor Delays Action.
Meanwhile, Gov. Van Wagner,
who has offered the States media
ton services, said his decision on
whether to invoke the mandatory
five-day strike notice or a 30-day
cooling off" period, required where
industries are producing defense
materials, depended on word from
the Office of Production Manage
ment in Washington, the Ford Co.
and the U. A. VIC. 1. o.
He said if the o. P. M. considered
the Ford Co. vital to defense pro-
duction he would appoint special
mediation commission.
The union has charged that the
company engaged in unfair labor
practices. The company denied the