Evening star., 1941-03-15
Strike Board Plan
AZ. OIL. Indorsed
Opposed bye. 0.
Nationwide Drive Begun
To Register Workers
For Arms Industries
~ tire Associated Press.

up today in opposition to proposal
under consideration by President
Roosevelt for creation of a Federal
Board to mediate strikes in defense
Industries. The American Fedora
ton of Labor, through its president,
has Endorsed the proposal,
While these rival groups pulled
and hauled on the mediation plan,
the Government opened Nation
wide drive to register workers for
Jobs on the expanding pay rolls of
armament industries.
The 4,500 full and part-time offices
of State employment services over
the country sought voluntary regis
trations by every unemployed person
and also by each person with an
urgently needed skill' which is not
being used in the registrant's present
task.
Murray Calls Idea "Unrealistic.'
'ewholly unrealistic," said c. I. o.
President Philip Murray Of the me-
diation board proposal. He con-
tended such a board would not fur
ther the defense program, and would
Operate to the complete detrlment
of labor"
A few hours before Mr.. Murray
made public last night memoran-
dunn to Mr.. Roosevelt expressing his
objections to the plan, William
Green, A. F. of L. president, emerged
from a White House conference an
nouncing that the A. F. L. executive
council unanimously favored crea-
ton of a mediation board which
would provide a voluntary arbitra-
ton system.
The plan under consideration by
the President was advanced by Sec
retary of Labor Perkins and by Will
liam S. Knudsen and Sidney Hill
man, co-directorS of the Office OF
Production Management. 1t was un-
derstood to provide for voluntary ar
bitration and for an 11-member
board, composed of four representa-
tives each for employers and en-
ployes and three for the general
public.
Roosevelt Reserves Decision.
Mr.. Roosevelt indicated he would
reserve his decision until he talked
to Mr.. Murray and declined at his
press conference to be drawn into
discussions of possible appointees to
the craftsmanship. The names of
Wendell L. Willkie ana Bernard
Baruch, New York financier, have
been mentioned In this connection.
Meanwhile, the railway labor me-
diation system, established by law,
went into operation in an effort to
obtain a peaceable settlement of
dispute between major carriers and
Il standard brotherhoods over paid
vacations and wage matters.
The National Railway Mediation
Board asked the brotherhoods yes
terday to postpone the counting of
strike ballots, which was set for to-
day, and submit to mediation of
their differences with the companies.
About 100000 employees are involved.
At Cincinnati George M. Harrison,
president of the Railway Labor
Executives Board, said IA brother
hoods were accepting the mediation
offer, but would count strike bal
lots anyway.
The brotherhood heads will meet
with the Mediation Board next
Wednesday in Washington, he said.
Balloting ends March 20, he
added, and returns are due in the
various brotherhood headquarters
March Is, when counting will be-
gin. The heads will meet March
28 to decide on further action.
Two Strikes Still Deadlocked.
Deadlocks prevailed in two Eastern
strikes.
An an-day conference yesterday
failed to effect settlement of the
strike of some 5000 C. I. o. employees
of the Aluminium Co. of America
plant at Edgewater, N. J. The union
charges the company violated over
time clauses of a 1899 contract and
also seeks wage increases. The plant
makes airplane parts.
The strike of $500 c. I. o. trans
port workers continued to tie up 95
per cent of New York City's surface
transportation system, and State
Mediator Arthur S. Meyer threw up
his hands at the end of the second
day Of negotiations and headed back
TO Florida to resume an interrupted
rest. The union asked higher wages,
shorter hours and longer paid va
cations.
New California Strikes.
A new strike was added to the list
when 420 c. I. o employees at the
Harvill Aircraft Diecasting Corp. at
Los Angeles walked out demanding
improved wages and better working
conditions. The firm makes small
parts for California airplane fac
tories.
At Trona, Calf, 900 c. L o. union
employees of the American Potash
& Chemical Co. plant, one of the
worlds largest, walked out yester-
day demanding higher wages, better
living conditions and closed shop.
Although potash is used in the man
ufacture of explosives, 4. H. Hoffman,
plant manager, said the firm has
no defense contracts.
At Oaklanad, Calf, a vote was
called for this afternoon to deter
mine whether the 5000 C. I. o.
United Automobile Workers Union
local would empower the Strategy
Committee to call strike, if it sees
At, against General Motors Corp.
here.
A conference yesterday failed to
settle the dispute which centered
around union charges of speed-up
and the status of 26 welders in the
Fisher Body plant, one of four Cen
eral Motors units involved.
Shipyard Workers to Go Back.
A. F. L. riggers and erectors at
the ingalls, Shipbuilding Yards at
Pascagoula, Miss. agreed to return
to work Monday under a temporary
arrangement They had struck for
higher pay. The plant has contracts
for 10 vessels for the Navy and Mari
time Commission.
AT Buffalo, Steel Workers