Evening star., 1941-07-10
0.P. N. Unit Assure
Ample Skilled Labor
For Defense Plants
Workers May Be Shifted
From Less Importont
Jobs on Priority Bosis
BY JAMES FREE.

An organization for assuring
ample numbers of skilled workers
In expanding defense industries, If
necessary by transferring them from
less important plants on a priori-
ties basis, is being set up today
through the Office of Production
Management, according to Sidney
Hillman. associate director-gen
of the o. P. M.
Under the new program, work OF
six Subdivisions of the o. P. M. deal
ing with labor will be combined
with defense labor activities of six
governmental agencies in an o. P. M.
labor supply branch. 1t will have
the assistance of y regional COM
mittees in industrial areas.
Anticipated labor requirements
that the new organization will be
called upon to fill in the next 10
months. Mr.. Hillman said, include
an additional 1,4l8.000 persons in
manufacturing concerns. on the
basis of present contracts alone. And
another million to million and
half. he added, are expected to find
employment in other business ac-
tivities Should the scope of the
industrial preparedness program be
expanded, Mr.. Hillman declared that
the number of new workers needed
would be even greater.
Priority for Brazil Mill.
In the production expansion side
of defense two announcements were
made by o. P. M.
w. A. Hauck. steel consultant.
stated that construction programs
nov under way in number OF wide
strip steel mills making light plates
for ships, railroad cars and other
purposes will increase the annual
CAPACITY of such mills by 7540Oo
tons-or to a total of 2,48OOOO tons
by early next year. Production IN
MAY was l08,772 tons.
And the o. P. M. acting on rec
nmmendation of the State Depart
ment, assured priority aid Tor con-
str,lction of S45 900 900 steel mill IN
Brazil Twenty million dollars was
loaned for the project through the
Export Import Bank, with the spec
ification that it was to be spent IN
the United States through contracts
with manufacturers and supplerS.
Preference orders will be designed
IN make completion of the mill pos
sible within three years without de-
isvine deliveries on defense contracts
in this country.
In estimating the number OF new
workers that will be needed to 1ul-
fill existing defense contracts, Mr..
Hlllman said that reports from tne
Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated
that 408 900 would be required IN the
aircraft industry by April 1912, with
322 900 in shipbuilding, 29l 90 in ord
nance and machine tool plants ana
rorne 384 900 in other factories. A
total of two and half to three MIL
lion additional employees will be ao-
sorbed In the Nations expanding
economy. it was predicted.
Employment Program.
To meet these needs. Mr.. Hlllman
pointed out that the 0. P. M. and
other agencies had already launched
pre- employment worker training
programs that have enrolled 1,424.-
900 persons. Other programs, such
ss training -within-industry courses
are also being conducted, but late
figures on the number of persons
involved are not available, he said.
In the pre- employment groups. 354.-
900 are studying under the National
Youth Administration (an increase
of nearly 225000 since April II,
716OO0 in vocational schools, 1872 900
In rural youth courses and $4,000 IN
engineering schools.
Mr.. Hillman asserted that the new
labor supply setup, to be headed by
Commissioner Arthur S. Flemmlng
of the Civil Service Commission, Is
"unouestionably one of the most
significant poolings of labor, man
aeement and Government resources
that has thus far taken place in the
national defense program"
Both labor and management are
10 be represented on the II regional
committees the activities of which
will be directed by the regional rep
resentative of the Governments
Bureau Of Employment Security.