Evening star., 1942-04-08
Auto Workers Union
Drops Double Time for
Sundays and Holidays
Equal Sacrifices by
Manufacturers of War
Goods Are Demanded
By the Associated Press.

NoiuIOStuISIS VI VuT
Goods Are Demanded
By the Associated Press.
DETROIT, April ga war con-
ference Of United Automobile Work.
ers &C. I. o. delegates last night ap-
proved unanimously, by voice vote,
an executive board recommendation
that premium pay for week end
and holiday work be waived for the
duration.
At the same time, the delegates,
representing more than a half mil
lion workers in automobile and air
craft plants in the Nation. demanded
that manufacturers Of war materials
be compelled to make equal sacri-
fees"
Acceptance Of the executive
boards proposal to forego extra pay
for Saturday, Sunday and holiday
work, except when such work con-
stituteS sixth or seventh conSecu-
tive working day followed a day
long session which at times became
boisterous when opponents displayed
reluctance to waive premium wages
unless excess profits" were banned
war manufacturers by Congress or
the President.
Opposes Premium Pay.
Earlier, President Roosevelt, In a
letter to the conference, informed
the U. A. VIC. I. o. that premium
pay puts brake" on wartime pro-
duction and helps our enemies
In addition to waving premium
pay. the conference reafirmed a
pledge to refrain from strikes or
work stoppages and to submit all
disputes to mediation for the wars
duration, agreed to increase produc-
tion by "all means available" and
urged that arms plants be operated
on 24-hour seven-day week basis
through establishment OF swing
shifts"
The board submitted also what 1t
termed victory through equality
of sacrifice" program proposing war
time laws to limit family or individ-
ual incomes to s25 900 a year and
war production profits to per cent
on invested capital. in return for
which, it said, labor would agree that
all wages for time over 40 hours a
week be paid in special non-nego-
table defense bonds.
President Roosevelt's Letter.
Mr.. Roosevelt's letter. addressed to
r. j. Thomas, U. A. VIC. I. o.
president, stated that every factory
and every shipyard should be work
ing seven days a week, night and
day.
"Of course, the REIMBURSEMENT of
double time should not operate as a
windfall to any employer or group
of employers. We are asking sacri-
fees from no group for the selfish
benefit of any other group Total
war demands total sacrifice for the
common good"
In its equality of sacrifice" pro-
gram the board made the acceptance
Of non-negotiable defense bonds in
lieu Of overtime pay contingent on
acceptance of nine other proposals.
They were:
Legislation limiting profits on war
production to 3 per cent on actual
capital invested.
Legislation permitting no indi-
vidual or family to receive In dlN.
dends, salaries or from other sources
more than SIS, 900 a year.
Want Prices Fixed.
Rigid fixing Of prices on food, rent,
clothing and other necessities OF
life.
Rationing to insure fair distribu-
ton of available consumers goods.
Adjustments to bring real wages
to 1e41 levels: increases in industries
where "substandard Qess than 81
an hour wages exist.
A guaranteed living wage" for
dependents of persons in the armed
forces.
Moratorium on debts of those in
armed forces and those unemployed
through conversion of industry.
Creation of a labor production di-
vision in the War Production Board
to encourage suggestions for in
creasing war production.
Creation of an agency of Govern
ment, labor, industry and agricul-
ture to make plans for postwar
adjustments.
Will Give Labor "Offensive."
Victor Reuther, the executive
obard's floor leader, declared in
urging adoption of the program that
''the board is leading with its chin"
IF this is our war, we've got to do
some sweating and sacrificing" he
said. Lets start a campaign to
make this proposal live, positive
issue In this country. If we adopt
1t, we can go to Congress with clean
hands"
George F. Adde's, secretary, as
serted the program was designated
"to put labor on the offensive" :"
adding:
You will get limitation of over
time pay whether you like it or not,
because your friends in Washington
have deserted you. You can't stop
Congress now. The reactionaries,
with their offensive program, are
gaining momentum and by April 20
they will have gained enough to
abrogate labor's rights"
Miners Protest Comments
By u. A. w. Officials
By the Associated Press.
Spokesmen for the United Mine