The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-14

Some Big Employer.
Resenfful
Success Depends on
How We'll rs Done
ny RAYMOND CHAPTER
WASHINGTON = We have
had military CONSUMPTION IN this
country before but this N the
first time the government has
undertaken 10 prevent men from
leaving civilian jobs without per-
mission
II 10 delicate business. and
manpower chairman McNutt
VIII want 10 assign his most
competent assistants 10 this
work. II IL loaded with dyna-
mite and cannot be safely handled
by the kind Of government bu-
reau field workers who have
sometimes gone out to deal with
Industrial relations.
The first big experiment comes
IN the Detroit area Thirty-four
kinds Of war work are covered.
affecting some coo. 900 workers.
The government cannot directly
compel . man to stay on . job.
but IL can keep him there by for
bidding another employer to
hire him. That 10 the method
being tried out. Provision IL
made for appeal by either en-
ployers or employees
II IL not intended that the
freezing shall be 20 complete a.
to prevent change Of job for any
reason whatever. But the bur-
den Of obtaining . release to
take other employment 10 placed
on the employe. He must show
that be IL capable Of more highly
skilled work than he 10 doing. or
that he IL working less than 20
hours a week. or that his Job In
too far from his home. or offer
some other strong reason for
being released to take another
job.
Nothing like this has been
seen in the United States since
the days when the newspapers
were full Of advertisements for
the return Of runaway slaves.
The practice 20 completely Of
fends all American instincts and
tradition that II can only be jus
titled n urgent war necsssity
leaves no other course.
Probably some degree Of pres
sure IL necessary 10 check violent
migrations Of labor now because
manpower reserves are thin and
need to be evenly spread. But
the big war producers In the De-
troit area do not in several IN
stances. favor freezing Of man.
power there ~ . solution of their
difficulties. They are all hav-
ing trouble getting enough work.
ers.
Ford has only about half a.
many a. he needs at Willow Run.
yet c. =. sorenson. vice-presi-
dent of Ford, doesn't believe you
can compel . man to work At .
Job II he wants to change. In
Detroit . few days ago several
other executives took the same
view. c. Z. Wilson of General
Motors says his concern has lost
more than 81. 700 men 70 the
armed services. but he isn't ready
for compulsory freszing Of an
ployes.
Yet the Judgment Of the gov
eminent that Il 10 necessary 10
take control must override that
Of individuals Outside who have
only . partial view. But when
large employers Of war labor
such ~ those In Detroit question
the need Of control In their areas,
that should suggest the utmost
care and flexibility in admins
terinx the controls which are now
being put into effect.
Most Of the complaint about ra-
t1oning and restricting comes
down TO irritation over arbitrary
and inflexible standardization of
restrictions. The principle that
YOU must ration whore shortages
exist Win not Be- seriously chai-
lenesd. Nor win II be questioned
that competing military and In
dustriaI demands on our man.
power are 20 heavy now that
fhere must be careful ALLEGATION
bv the government. treating the
whole usnpowsr ~ one reser-
voir-
A broad general rule IL laid
down but there is difficulty in
making 1t 1T al cases. President
Wilson Of General Motors says
that when he visits his various
plants each offers . different
kind Of pass 10 enter the works.
As head Of the company. he laid
down the policy that no one
should 20 into . plant without .
pass But ne left II 70 each plant
superintendent to work out his
own system
4 II.