Evening star., 1941-04-02
Ford
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Ford
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the part of the Communistic ele-
ment to ruin our national defense
effort"
Ford Has Defense Orders.
The Ford company has some
$155 100000 in defense orders. In
formed sources expressed belief that
work on an order for 1900 small
Army trucks was the only actual
defense production under way cur
rently at the Rouge plant, although
an airplane engine factory within
the confines of the plant is nearly
ready to start operations.
Mr.. Bennett said that eight men
the company returned to their jobs
at the request of Federal Labor
Conciliator James F. Dewey ran
rampant in the plant. cursing people
who didn't feel of the same mind
as they did about the union"
I'VE will not, under any circum-
stances, take these men back into
the plant" Mr.. Bennett continued.
He said he had talked to Henry
Ferd, founder of the company, this
morning and that Mr.. Ford sup
ported this stand.
The strike at the Ford plant "is
the most serious labor situation in
the United States Mr.. Dewey said
earlier.
There must be quick action if
| this strike Is not to have extremely
serious consequences" he added.
"The River Rouge plant is the key
to the Ford works. Its closing means
assembly plants all over the world
also will have to close"
Shortly after 7 am, when day
shifts normally are reporting for
work, about $50 pickets with bricks
and clubs battled broupS OF en-
ployes climbing over fence to reach
the plant grounds east of Gate 4.
Police were virtually helpless for
time, but when the fighters broke
up into small groups, officers inter-
vened and separated them, escorting
the strikers back into the plant.
Immediate cause of last nights
work stoppage, a union official said,
was discharge by the Ford manage
/ ment of chosen spokesmen of the
Rouge workers" including chairmen
of union committees in various
buildings.
Walter P. Reuther, head of the
unions General Motors department,
said the A. F. l.. Teamsters' Union
had pledged its cooperation and
would not allow trucks to enter or
leave the plant.
Strike Climaxes 4-Year Fight.
The dispute, climax of q four-year
attempt by the c. I. o. United Auto
mobile Workers to organize Ford
employees, flared suddenly last night
when unioniSts ceased work in sew
eral departments of the giant fac
tory on the River Rouge.
Dearborn officials described the
move as "sit-down strike" and ap-
pealed to Gov. Van Wagner for
State police to evacuate an esti-
mated 5000 to 5000 workers.
U. A. w. leaders charged that
employees were forcibly kept inside
the plant by members of the Ford
service department. Later all the
10000 workers the union said were
involved were reported to have left
the plant.
The union pledged Gov. Van Wag-
oner they would maintain peace
full and orderly picketing.
Oral arguments are scheduled at
Washington Saturday on the U. A.
w. petition for collective bargaining
elections in the Rouge and Lincoln
plants. Evidence taken by Labor
Board trial examiner here last week
already is before the board.
Mr.. Bennett said three weeks ago
that if the U. A. VIC. I. o. won
such an election, well bargain till
hell freezes over. but bargaining
doesn't mean you have to say yes" g
Refusal to Negotiate Charged.
There was no immediate state
ment from the company on the
strike issues. After the shutdown
and before the plant was evacuated
Mr.. Bennett declared that union
men have seized the plant lille
gally. I have called on the
Governor to have State police to
enforce the law to evacuate these
men from our plants. 1t Is
up to the Government to see that
the law Is enforced
r. J. Thomas, president of the
C. I. O.-U. A. W., and Michael
Widman, director of the Ford
organizing drive, in a statement
today, said the Ford Co. "has
for months refused to negotia-
ate" the union demands, which
include reinstatement of discharged
workers. 10-cent hourly wage in
crease. a seniority system, shop
steward system and abolition OF the
company's service department, men,
bers of which function as plant
police.
Tdday's strike was the first ever
called in one of Fords Michigan
plants The notice of intent to
strike was filed more than a month
ago with the State Labor Board in
accordance with Michigan law.
Wire Sent to Defense Chiefs.
The Ford management always has
contended it is ready to negotiate
grievances with any of its employees,
but has declined to recognize a
union as representing its workers.
In recent discussions by Ford rep
resentatives with the Governors S
commission and unionists, no U. A.
VIC I. o. member not employed
in the Ford plant was present. How
many Ford workers the U. A. W.
c. I. o. claims never has been dis
closeo.
The union has charged that in