Evening star., 1942-11-07
5000 on Strike
In Detroit Peril
War Production
Tool and Die Makers
Union Closes
10 Plants
BY the Associated Press.

DETROIT, Nov. IA strike in
volving an estimated 5000 tool
and die makers closed at least
10 plants in Detroit today and a
high naval ordnance officer said
that production of major war ,
plants would begin taking a
nose dive pretty soon" If the
stoppage continues.
More than half the Detroit mem.
bership of the independent Mechan-
les Educational Society OF America,
which afforded a nucleus for the
new Confederated Unions of Amer
lea, participated yesterday and last
night in series of walkouts de-
scribed by Matthew Smith, MESA
president, as a labor holiday" in
protest against acts of the rival
United Automobile Workers (CIO.
Mr.. Smith predicted the rest Of
the MESA's Detroit members, esti-
mated at between 5000 and 1000,
also would strike. He called a meet
ing of the society's national admin
istrative council in Cleveland today
to decide whether the stoppage
would be extended to Cleveland,
where the union claims a member
ship of 10000; Toledo and other
cities.
1,1OO Out of One Plant.
Detroit plants already affected
included the Michigan Tool Co.,
with 1,100 workers out; the Detroit
Tap & Tool Co., 600 men affected;
Nash-Kelvinator Corp, with 500;
Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Co., with
400; Enterprise Machine Parts Co.,
with $50: Watson-Ro Manufac-
turing Co., Law Tool Co., Greenfield
Tap & Die Co. and the Briggs Air
craft Division, in each of which
from handful to 200 men were
involved.
The plants produce tools and dies
upon which other industries depend.
Capt. A. S. Wotherspoon, inspector
in charge of the United States Naval
Arsenal here, said major war plants
could not long produce without the
materials supplied by the tool and
die plants.
IF we don't get them pretty soon,"
he declared, we'll begin taking a
nose dive. We can't produce without
them"
WLB Makes Appeal.
In Washington the War Labor
Board appealed to the workers
patriotism for an end to the walk
| out.
Edward M. Owen, state labor
mediator, said strife between men,
bers of the MESA and the UWA-
CIO led to the walkouts, which he
said could disrupt the entire war
production program if continued
for any extended time.
In Boston, UAW International
President R. J. Thomas described
the holiday as "a further indi-
cation of his (Smith's) complete
irresponsibility both toward the
war effort and toward his own men,
bership"
Mr.. Thomas continued: Because
UAW-CIO members in plants COW
cred by UAW-CIO contracts are re.
fusing to join his dual union, Smith
has called strikes in some MESA
plants. In other words, Smith Is
Furnishing his own membership be-
cause other workers refuse to sup
port him. No plants covered by the
UAW.CIO are affected by Smiths
latest erratic move"
May Strike in Other Cities.
Mr.. Smith voiced the interference
charge, declaring: We're going to
see If there is any law and order in
this town. We want to find out If
man can join the labor organization
of his own choice"
Mr.. Smith said that three MESA
men were slugged recently on a visit
to the Briggs aircraft plant in con-
nection with National Labor Re.
lations Board matter.
Heretofore, Mr.. Smith has charged
that the CIO union was failing to
obtain proper advantages for its
membership in the tool and die
industry and for maintaining work.
ers. The MESA, smaller union,
has been in existence here several
years.
Affected plants included those Of
NaSh-Kelvinator Corp, Eureka
Vacuum Cleaner Co. and the Mich
igan Tool Co.
Commenting "this is an awful
thing in wartime" President Oscar
L. Bard of the Michigan Tool Co.,
said he was asking Secretary of the
Navy Knox and Army ordnance
Offices to intercede.