The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-02-05
LABOR news
FROM BRITAIN
. GREATER MANPOWER
. BACKED BY TRADE UNIONS
. CONSCRIPTION OF WOMEN

war upon America. For three days
just before this stupendous event. the
British House Of Commons debated the
government new manpOwer proposals
They are of the most revolutionary sig
nificance-but they have been accept
ed, practically without demur by the
Trade Unions, partly because Trade
Union representatives were associated
with the formulation Of the new plans
and Trade Union recommendations for
the safeguarding of the workpeople af-
fected have been accepted. The pro-
jected changes are of the most sweep
ing kind. But they are taking effect
without the smallest perceptible jolt in
EN- em-ployer-union-gov relations
The changes are of two kinds: % a
wide extension of liability for compul-
sorry national service affecting both
men and women. and (2) a radical
modification of the system of reserva-
tiOn for Industrial employment, as
against claims Of military service Con-
scriptiOn for the armed services has
hitherto been confined to men of mill
tary age, the age limits being from 10
to II. Practically all these age groups
| have been called up, leaving i'm indus
try only those men of military age who
have been reserved on an occupational
basis for jobs Of national Importance
The government has now tabled bill
to extend liability for military service
to men up to the age of 81, and also to
women from the age of 90 to 81 with
the provisO that the immediate liability
in the case of women will fall only
upon the age groups 20 to Al.
simultaneously, the system of bloc
reservation for the war trades is to be
abandoned and new method of indi-
vidual reservation will come into Op-
GRAFTON for both men and women in
war industry.
How Women Will BE COnscripted
Conscription of women for military
service is an innovation which has been
accepted without tremor of public
feeling. Such safeguards have been
agreed to by the government that there
is no serious apprehension of any dam
gers or difficulties arising in the appli-
cation Of compulsion to women for en-
rollment in the forces
The women aged 20 to 80 are to be
called up for the WOmen's Royal Naval
Service (otherwise-kn Known as the w. r..
N. s.; the Auxiliary Territorial Serv-
ice CA. II. S. for shorD the Women's
Auxiliary Air Force (the w. A. A. F.
and any civil defense forces. They will
be given the option to service in any
of these auxiliary organizations, in
civil defense services, or in certain
specified vacancies in industries.
No married woman is to be called
up, although they may volunteer EX-
emption is also provided for any wom-
an who has living with her a child of
her own under the age of II, or Il step
child, an adopted child, or an iilegiti
mate child.
Women engaged in vital war work or
service will be reserved from calling
up-but this brings into sight the other
maj jOr change in the system of reSer-
walton for industrial employment.
Changes in Reservation Methods
Reservation of both men and women
on an Occupational basis is to be dis
continued, ana hencefOrth those who
are engaged in key jobs will have to
claim deferment Of calling up notices
on an individual basis these claims
being decided by district manpower
| 1, g,
on the present schedule of reserved
occupations in rapid stages. The pres
ent age limits in all categorieS are to
be raised by one year every month, so
that men reserved at the age of 80
(say) will reach the upper limit of IL
in six months time.
AS calling up notices reach the de
reserved workers, it will be the re-
spOnSibility of the employer in the first
place to apply for deferment in the
case of a key man (Or wOman) for
whom an efficient substitute cannot he
| found. At the instance of the Trade
Unions, who feared that if claims for
deferment We're left exclusively in the
hands of employers, injuSticeS might
occur through favOritism or other dis
elimination. 1t has been agreed that
the individual worker shall have a
right to apply for deferment at the
time of his medical examination. 1t
has also been agreed that unions will
be free to assist in making good indi-
vidual claims for deferment thus put
| forward
Using Are to Release Youth
The manpOwer boards, which are to
deal with applications for deferment.
number 45. They will be composed of
representatives Of the Service and Sup
ply Departments that is to say, a labor
supply officer, military recruiting of
fcer, a deferment officer, Il woman
power officer and chairman. These
are all government appOintees.
1t does not by any means follow that
when board rejects an application
for deferment that the applicant will
be transferred at once to military serV-
ice. Men of sedentary occupation over
the age of Al are not to be considered
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