Evening star., 1941-03-11
Strike Halls BuiIdinq
On S12,OOO,O0O
SmaII-Arms Plant
Metal Riegers' WoIkout
Hampers Construction
Of Cargo Vessels
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
Strikes bearing directly or indi-
rectly on the Nations rearmament
drive continued today to dot the
industrial map.
Construction of a $12OOO,OOO small
arms ammunition plant in st. Louis
was hampered today by strike of
120 A. F. of L. building laborers,
stopping the work of a small number
of carpenters, electricians and steam
shovel operators.
R. G. Stowell, superintendent of
construction, said the strike resulted
from the contractors inability to
furnish permanent job passes to
Earl jenkins, union business agent,
and several of his assistants.
The plant is being built under
Government contract by a subsidiary
of the Western Cartridge Co.
Members of the A. F. of L. Iron-
workers Union in ST. Louis, seeking
a new contract providing for wage
increases and closed shop. went on
strike at the Stupp Brothers Bridge
& Iron Co., which has national de-
fense contracts for prefabricated
steel.
Ship Riggers Strike.
A group of A. F. L. metal trade
riggers struck yesterday at the In
gals shipbuilding yard at Pasca-
goula, Miss, where cargo vessels are
being built. The union claimed $50
men were affected; the company
said only SO of its 1000 employees
were involved. The company con-
tended the strike was juriSdictional;
the union said it was called because
of improper recognition by the firm
and in protest to wages, hours, work.
ing conditions and alleged discrimi-
nation against the riggers trade.
Federal officials at Washington
were expected to make another move
soon to settle the Allis- chalmers
Manufacturing Co. strike and get
the big Milwaukee factory back to
work on $45,000,000 in Army and
Navy orders. C. I. o. United Auto
mobile Workers have been out al
most seven weeks seeking union rec
ognition and other concessions.
Perfect Board Plans.
Defense officials at the National
Capital we're reported to be perfect
ing their plans for a defense in
dustry labor board, intended to
arbitrate industrial disputes. Some
informed sources expressed belief the
board might be established in the
next two weeks in an effort to assure
uninterrupted production of steel,
coal, aluminium, electrical goods and
automobiles.
In Pittsburgh, officials of the Alu-
minum. Co. of America and the C.
L o. Aluminium Workers, Edgewater,
N. j., local conferred last night on
the unions request for Qualification
of the overtime clause in the wage
contract with the company.
A company spokesman said the
union asked time and one-haf for
Sunday work whether or not it was
part of the regular work week. He
said the union representatives were
told the corporations policy is ito
pay overtime for anything over the
40-hour week, as required by the
wage-hour law, but only regular pay
for Sunday when Sunday work is
part of the regular work week"
Conference Is Friendly.
The spokesman said the confer
ence was a very friendly" one and
no strike threats were involved"
Chairman Vincent McKenna of
the unions Edgewater local, who
attended the meeting, declined COM
ment.
A union spokesman said c. I. o.
employees of Thomas A. Edison, Inc,
plants in New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania would vote Wednesday on
whether to strike for union shop
and a wage boost. The company,
which has some 100000 in defense
contracts, offered employees increases
totaling $225, 900, but the union men
rejected the proposal.