The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-16
UNAUTHORIZED | STRIKE HURTS
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 Tn return, the company ordered workers to refrain from attempting to pass through the picket line, more than 200 workers gathered at the gates, and the company in structed its paymaster to give em- ployes their regular weekly wages from small building outside the yard.
 General production manager Ar thur L. Gardner said the work stop page was the first in 24 months since the company began operating three shifts a day, seven days a week "in the production of chemi- calls urgently needed in the war production program"
 The company expressed wiling ness to resume contract negotiations at any time with the Union commit tee but said that the question of maintenance of Union membership was e matter for the War Labor Board to decide.
 Two federal conciliators who at tended negotiations said the dispute would be submitted immediately to the War Labor Board because of the importance of the chemicals. Company Refused
 The maintenance of union clause would require alr members of the union to continue as members in good standing or forfeit their jobs, but the company refused to agree to that on grounds it would destroy freedom of acton among the en- ployes. Contract negotiations began July 1 and never reached g. discus sion of wages.
 Both plants employ about 1000 workers in constant, around-the- clock production and though not all are skilled Workmen company off, cials observed that you can't go out in the street and replace them very we'll"
 Though censorship prevented the company from revealing details, a statement said that cessation of operation not only will stop ship rnents being madeu nder army, navy and Lend-Lease contracts but also will cut off other essential war plants in New England from their principal source of large group of vital, basic war chemicals.
 Since supplies of many of these chemicals are critically short" the statement said, operations at such plants will be seriously crippled and New England's shipping problem is sure to be further complicated as it becomes necessary to draw on more distant sources of supply .." Mandatory Control
 "The, entire production of the New England Alcohol Go. plant has been under mandatory distribution control by the WPO for some time. Absolutely essential in the produc- tion of smokeless powder, alcohol also is needed badly as an anti freeze and is vital as Sol- vent for many medicinals and ir- dustrial products used by the armed services.
 Interruption of Everett produc- ton will also seriously cripple Bos- tons gas supply since large quanti- ties are necessary for production of the type of gas used Rere. This in turn will seriously curtail industrial operations using gas in various manufacturing processes"
 Gardner said that his company has asked the union committee to permit an orderly shutting down of processes" so that materials and equipment would not be damaged
 The company also has asked the committee to permit plant guards to pass through picket lines to protect the plants against "any saboteurs who might take advantage of a cessation of operations to inflict ir- reparable damage upon machinery and equipment which would be im- possible to replace for months"