Evening star., 1941-10-17
Strike Threat Eases
AT Big Bomber Plant;
Bendix Crisis Nears
Mass Violence Feared
Inevitable at Jersey
Plone Parts Foctoy
b the Associated Press.

D. the Associated Press
Strike threats eased today at the
huge SanDiego bomber plant OF the
Consolidated Aircraft Corp, but q
crisis appeared to be at hand at
the Bendix IN. j. factory Of Air
Associates, Inc, where C. l. o. men
walked out two weeks ago.
The Defense Mediation Board said
q 30-day, no-strike truce involving
more than $4,000 workers in captive
coal mines would be extended on a
day-to-day basis past Sundays
deadline. During the life of the
temporary agreement the Mediation
Board holds Jurisdiction over the
disputes.
The Executive Board OF the
A. F. L. Machinists' Union an
nounced last night that plans for a
strike at Consolidated would be
held in abeyance "a reasonable
length of time" in order to permit
settlement to be reached here. The
disagreement, the board contended,
was between the Government and
the management.
w. D. Chudleigh, president Of the
machiniSts' local, said the men be-
gan discussing the adviSability of
a strike after Mai. R. H. Fleet,
Consolidated president, had an
nounced that he would not sign
proposed contract raising wages.
80
the extra cost. Maj. Fleet said the
wage increases would amount to
$82.000,000 and would "break the
company"
High officials Of the Army and
Navy were keeping in close touch
with the situation and considering
Maj. Fleets demands.
The union has approved the pro-
posed agreement which would in
crease the beginners scale from
55-65 cents an hour to 60-75 cents,
and give 13-cent blanket increase
to employees earning more than 65
cents an hour.
Consolidated employs 28.O0O work
ers and holds contracts for $780,
VOU,UUU WOTln OF aircraft.
Violence Feared at Bendix.
Sheriff William R Browne at Ben
dix telegraphed Gov. Charles Edi-
son yesterday that mass violence
appears inevitable" today at the Air
Associates plant, which has orders
for s5,000,000 worth of airplane
parts. The sheriff said he had
heard reports that striking c. I. o.
United Auto Workers would try to
force the plant to close.
1t has remained in opera ton since
the c. l. o. men walked out de-
manding form of union shop. an
increase of minimum wage scale
from 40 cents to Is cents an hour,
and a 15-cent hourly boost for en-
ployes drawing rs cents or more.
The Mediation Board made its
Sfnal' request that the firm accept
settlement terms, which include i'm
mediate return of al strikers to
their old jobs. Leroy Hill, company
president, had previously rejected
the terms. stating that the men
would be put back to work as places
for them opened.
Union Leader Brands Strike Outlaw.
A strike of c. I. o. steel workers
at the Great Lakes Steel Corp, De-
troit, was termed by their own re-
gional director, Orval J. Kincaid,
"the irresponsible action of a hand
ful of would-be leaders" He urged
loyal union members to return to
their jobs. and said those who didn't
show up by midnight tonight would
be suspended by the union and face
possible dismissal by the company.
The men set up picket lines We'd
nesday night as evidence of their dis
satisfaction with recent wage negoti-
ations. Mr.. Kincaid said wage ad-
tustments were the highest in the
industry and called for average
hourly scales Of 81 to s1.50.
Steel Settlement Reached.
A tentative agreement for settle
ment of an 18-day strike at the Mid
land Steel Products Co at Cleveland
has been reached. Federal Concili-
ator James F. Dewey announced last
night, but pending its ratification by
union members details were with
held.
c. 7. o. employees there had struck
for 20 per cent wage increases and
reclassif1cation Of 342 employees. The
strike affected not only 1,400 Mid
land employees. but forced the lay
off OF 5000 Studebaker workers at
South Bend, Ind, and 5000 Hudson
employees at Detroit. Midland sup
plies a number Of automobile fac
tories with chassis frames.
Another Cleveland strike in
volved C. l. o. employees at the Lake
side Steel Improvement Co. an Or
ganization which hardens and tenn
pers gun mounts, aircraft parts and
similar military equipment. The
company said the union demanded
the dismissal of any man who failed
to pay his dues.
A. r. L. metal trades workers who
have been on strike went back to
work last night at the ingalls, Ship
yards at Pascagoula, Miss, where
production had been tied up since
Monday. The Mediation Board is to
try to settle the dispute. Chief issue