Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-12
1900 Go on Strike
Al Aluminium Plant
In New Jersey
Ace u. S. Mediutors Seek
To End AIIis-ChoImers,
Bethlehem Disputes

Ey the Associated Press.
c. I. o. union employees at the
EdgeWater, N. j.. plant of the Alum
mum Co. of America struck today,
claiming the company had violated
overtime pay provisions of the union
contract.
The plant employs about 5000
workers and manufactures alum
mum used in many defense articles,
and particularly to Eastern aircraft
factories.
The strike was authorized in secret
balloting March and 7. UnSucceSs-
full efforts to settle the dispute fol-
lowed.
The dispute centered over overtime
pay for men whose 40hOur week in
cludes Sunday work. The union
said its contract with the company
required the increased rate for this
work; the company denied the
claim. Negotiations collapsed in
Pittsburgh yesterday.
E H. Grotefend plant superin-
tendent, did not estimate the total
of defense orders, mainly in sub
contracts, but said the plant had an
annual pay roll of S5,250000, indi-
eating an estimated Sl5,000,000 to
S20000,000 in orders.
Meanwhile one of the Govern
ment's ace labor trouble-shooters
was dispatched to Milwaukee today
for special conferences on the AlliS-
Chalmers Manufacturing Co. strike.
SteeIman Sent to Milwaukee.
Secretary of Labor Perkins said
John R. Steelman, chief of the Con-
citation Service would confer with
the company management and c. I.
O.-United Automobile Workers in an
attempt to end the strike which for
seven weeks has delayed production
on $45,000,000 worth Of national de-
Tense orders.
Union recognition was major
point at issue.
Thomas Finn. another representa-
tive of the Cancellation Service, was
assigned to try to settle fresh dis
pute between the G. I. O.-Steel
Workers Organizing Committee and
the Bethlehem Steel Corp. at a
LaCkaWanna, N. Y, plant which was
the site of brief strike last month.
The union, which claims 10000 of
the $4,000 employees as members, de-
clared the company refused to dis
cuSS grievances.
Labor men attached wide Signif1-
canoe to the negotiations in progress
at New York between the c. 1. o.
United Mine Workers of America
and the Nations major bitumlnous
coal operators concerning a new
tWo-year contract for 100000 miners.
John L. Lewis. U. M. w. A. presl-
dent, presented the unions demands
yesterday: A wage increase of 81
day, no change in the existing
5-day. 35-hour week. Terming the
demands rather formidable" the
mine operators prepared to present
their counterproposal tomorrow.
The present contract expires
April l.
Hope Grows for New York Truce.
Hopes increased today in New
York for settlement of 3-day-old
strike which immobilized 95 per cent
of Manhattans surface transporta-
ton, when Mayor La Guardia an
nounced the opposing factions
agreed to meet with him this after
noon.
His announcement came after a
brief talk with Allan S. Haywood,
National c. I. o. organizer, who ar
rived in New York last night from
Washington.
AS Haywood left for the Mayors
Office he expressed hope his meeting
might result in negotiations leading
to settlement of the strike.
His visit marked the first time
since the dispute began that spokes-
men for the StrikerS-memberS OF
the Transport Workers Union-had
appeared at the Office of the Mayor,
who earlier had said he was willing
to act as mediator.
The union demands include 20
per cent wage increase, a 48-hour
week. three weeks vacation yearly
and eight paid holidays year.
Other Strikes Continue.
Other strikes dotted the industrial
map.
c. 7 o. steel workers remained
on strike against the j. B. Brill co.
at Philadelphia where production
was at a standstill on $4l666l worth
of artillery and ammunition. Inc
strikers asked higher wages, union
shop and other concessions.
Ending a strike after one day,
A. FL. Building LaborerS returned
to their Jobs today on construction
of a S12OOO.000 small arms ammunl-
ton plant at st. Louis. Contractors
officials said a demand by business
agents for permanent passes to the
construction site. cause OF the
strike. was not granted and that
the men lust came back to work
At Minneapolis efforts were being
made to arbitrate differences which
threatened to halt production OF
defense equipment at the Mime
anolis-Moline Power Implement Co.
and the Minneapolis Honeywell
Regulator Co. G. I. o. machlnlsts
charged that a company union had
been formed at the latter firm since
the c. I. o. union submitted new
contract two weeks ago At Min
neapoliS- Moline, machiniStS are
seeking wage increases and paid
vacations.
Oakland Workers Go Back.
Two thousand men went back to
work in three Oakland, Calf, auto
motive plants today but the dispute
in the Fisher Body Works, which
caused the shutdown yesterday, re-
manned unsettled.
CborJac Metca1f MANAGER of the