Evening star., 1942-06-28

a General Motors plant in Michigan.
machine. There is also opportunity for
suitable candidates to become teachers
of new workers.
Under training on the job" 10000
lead men," foremen and supervisors
have been taught in special courses to
pass on their know how to beginners
in 24O0 war plants employing 1927 900
men and women. The job-instructol
program is reaching supervisory per-
sonnel at rate of 5000 a week, and is
spreading rapidly to other factories. 1t
is estimated that each of the new SUPER
visors will train at least 10 workers.
Despite success to date in finding
labor for war plants the problem OF ex-
pansion has grown into one of the most
serious besetting the armament effort.
Some of the critical war industries-air-
craft, tanks, ordnance, shipbuilding
metal working and industrial machin-
ery-were affected early this year by q
shortage of skilled artisans.
The United States Employment Serv-
ice reported not long ago that for every
tool designer, toolmaker, marine ma
chinist, ship carpenter and aircraft
riveter available there were needed re-
spectively ST. Is, %, and 4.
Prejudice Keeps Some Idle.
In a number Of major war industry
centers the reservoirs of white and in
L. 1oL
ready been exhausted. Such areas in
clude Portland. Me-; Hartford and
Bridgeport. Conn; Buffalo and Elmira,
N. Y; Harrisburg and Berwick, Pa; Bal
timore, Hampton Roads, Wilmington, N.
c.; Charleston. S. c.; Seattle and Ia
coma. Wash, and Los Angeles, San Diego
and Sacramento, Calf. Facing the same
condition are also key areas like Detroit,
Akron, Wichita. Milwaukee and Phila-
delphia.
1t is paradox that in the face of
desperate need for labor there remained
100000 unemployed in the United
States at the end of April, the most re-
cent month for which figures are avail
able. OF these, 100000 were in New York
City alone, in close proximity to Con-
necticut and New Jersey, two OF the
country's chief labor shortage districts.
The reason in this case, according to
the War Manpower Commission, is pref
udice against New York City workers"
Factors named in other regions include
dearth of housing and location of war
plants in the deep interior.
During 1912, one estimate is, the armed
forces will require a total of 3,1O0. 900
men in addition to 100000 in uniform
at the end Of 1941. With 1O,500 900 new
workers required. an aggregate draft of
13,600,000 on American manpower is
anticipated by the close of December.
Where will these millions be recruited?
Still Short Of Total Needed.
The War Manpower Commission is
counting upon the following resources:
Workers converted from peacetime in
dustry, 100000; housewives, youths and
older workers, 2,OO0, 900; unemployed, L.
100000; industrial volunteers from rural
areas. 1000. and self-employed individ-
uals 100000. This makes a total of H..
100000, and leaves a deficit OF 1900, 900
from the 13,6O0,O needed by the Army,
Navy and war industries.
Government agencies concerned are
crying out against labor pirates" or en-
ployers who lure workers from other fac
tories with offers of higher wages, and
against labor hoarders," who retain
cki11od y,oocho y,ic laL ;v, al, 81.
by giving top pay for work of lower grade.
They are calling on factories to relax re-
quirements based on prejudices which bar
women, Negroes, aliens and superannu-
ated workers from war jobs.
There are declared to be available
1000 900 ablebodied colored mechanics
In most war plants Negroes have been
employed until recently as common
laborers. Only now are a few Of them,
here and there, being advanced to ma
chine operators.
This spring 100000 women were en-
ployed in war industries 100000 more
are to be enrolled during the year, and
probably as many more will be needed in
1943.
The deadly flaw in the war labor pro-
gram, according to engineers, is that it
still rests on voluntary basis. Men and
women are permitted to work or not, as
they like, and freely to choose the place
and nature of their employment, on con-
siderations not of aptitude, but often of
wage scales. Unlike politicians, whose
trade is that of winning elections. indus
trial technicians think only of tangible
production. Sooner or later, they predict,
it will be found necessary to institute =
draft and selective service for laNor o
well - for the armed forces.