Evening star., 1942-09-11
Davis Urges Strikers
Al Cartridge Plant
To Return 10 Work
Wulkout Held PeriIinq
Lives Of Soldiers, Sailors;
Illinois MiIitiu Stands By
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALTON, Ill, Sept. 11.-Telling
workers at the huge Western
Cartridge Plant their idleness
ieopardized the lives of thou
sands of American soldiers and
sailors, William H. Davis, chair
man of the War Labor Board,
called on the strikers today to
return to work Immediately.
AS Mr. Davis telegraphed his
warning from Washington to Fred
Olds, American Federation of Labor
organizer, operations at the plant
were so limited "as to be of no value
at ALL" company spokesman said.
The strike began Tuesday over
discharge of an employe in the
snokeless powder division and
spread to the entire plant yesterday.
Twelve companies of the State Mill
tia were modified to prevent pos
sible disorder.
All companies were held in their
home armories while Illinois State
police, county officials and plant
guards maintained a close watch.
There was no disorder, and the
picket line was small.
Local President Discharged.
The employe over whom the e'strike
was called is Francis Bunny, presi-
dent of the local union of the AFL
Chemical Workers. The company
suspended him for allegedly enter
ing a restricted area of the NUM-
tions works without permission and
refused to restore him to the job
pending a hearing before a disci-
plinary board.
Mr.. Davis telegraphed Mr.. Olds
that he understood the workers were
striking because they believed the
company improperly refused to re-
hire fellow worker who had been
suspended.
although you may believe you
are helping your fellow worker, you
must also recognize that by this
strike you are jeopardizing the lives
of thousands of soldiers and sailors
fighting this war on far flung fronts.
I therefore call on you to return to
work Immediately while the National
War Labor Board determines the
dispute
In Washington, the WLB said
1t had sent Robben Fleming, a
mediation officer, to attempt an
interim settlement of the dispute
which caused the strike. Mr..
Fleming left last night and board
officials we're awaiting word from
him before commenting further)
No answer to the telegram was
forthcoming Immediately, but union
members have twice rejected WLB
requests to return to work pending
negotiations on new contract.
Pay Rise Also Asked.
War Department officials said the
strike was in the WLB's lap. Army
spokesmen refused to say whether
they were considering taking over
the plant, which holds war con-
tracts.
Mr.. Olds protested the mobilizing
OF Jfle militia ana Sd1Q he Hdd ISle-
phoned President Roosevelt to send
Army troops if he believes armed
forces are necessary.
The union demands include:
The company agree to an NLRB
election, and that it be held as soon
as possible to determine who shall
represent the employees as bargain
ing agent; all employees on an hourly
basis be given pay increases of 29
cents an hour; the discharged en-
ploye (whose dismissal was the i'm
mediate cause of the strike) be re-
tnstated in his former division with
out loss of seniority or back pay, and
that contract signed in 1941 con-
tinue in effect day by day until the
present contract is completed.