Evening star., 1942-03-01
Labor Troubles
Again Cloud
War Outlook
Revival of Business
As Usual Attitude
Seen in Unions
Special Dispatch to The Star.

once again, has become a dominant
factor in the war-hence in ths
business-outlook, says Busines,
Week today. Sporadic strikes have
been interrupting production, it is
stated, and oftentimes for trivial
reasons.
This week, for instance, welders in
the Hoboken shipbuilding division
Of Bethlehem Steel quit work, al.
legedly because q foreman used
abusive language: the welders de-
manded the discharge of the FORE
man ss a condition of their return
to work. On the West Coast Beth
lehem shipbuilding workers baked
at a 10-hour day, even though the
company offered time-and- -one-halt
for the two hours of overtime plus
q 10 per cent bonus.
Even more indicative of the trend
was the refusal Of many union
leaders throughout the country to
authorize work on Washington's
birthday, despite the specific request
OF War Production Board Chief
Donald M. Nelson. The unions
demand time-and -one-haH for over
time, and when plant managers
suggested that they work first and
let the time-and-one half question
be deferred to later decision, either
by negotiation or arbitration, the
unions In numerous cases said mo" "
Leaders stood on the letter of their
contracts, feeling that any deviation
might set precedent.
More Strikes Predicted.
All this points to a revival of
business as usual" tendencies on
the labor front. For four weeks
after Pearl Harbor there were no
strikes. But now the country seems
to be drifting further away from,
instead Of closer to. the "uninter-
rupted production" which President
Roosevelt declared in his speech
Monday night was so necessary to
the success Of our war effort.
The labor-management problem
Is a basically tough one. The cause
Of disputes is oftentimes deep-seat-
ed; and the overt reason for q strike
such as minor work grievance
may merely be symptomatic of q
fundamental distrust or a difference
Of opinion.
In many instances, the feeling oi
suspicion Is so strong on both sides
that any proposal made by the other
is met with a "show-me" attitude
the other fellow must be getting
out y it somehow!
Until Preside;h Roosevelt and the
War Labor Boa.A come forth with
a formulation ~ policy-both on
wages and the closed shop-the out
look Is for more rather than fewer
Interruptions of production. Fol
labor is in q sellers market. And
1t Is trying to make the most of Its
powerful bargaining position.
Many Industries Affected.
In the meantime, Washington Is
having its hands full reshaping our
economy to war. Some idea OF the
ramiheations Of the job-and the
wide range of industries Affected
Is to be cleaned by q quick perusal
Of some recent regulations. Here are
. few examples:
Gamers were granted an ALA
rating on machinery repairs neces-
sary to prevent spoilage; the order
restricting coal and coke inventory.
building was revoked to permit
large users to build up stockpiles as
a hedge against transport shortages;
gas service to new consumers
for heating purposes was prohibited
in II States; Standardization OF
specifications on iron, brass and
bronze valves was ordered to save
critical materials from going into
siow-moving items; use Of new wool
for civilian fabrics and carpets is cut
again.
Events Of the war itself are bound
to play an increasing part in chang
ing our civilian life. Sinkings OF
eankers maJ' force rationing of gaso-
line along the Eastern seaboard
and petroleum companies even now
are trying to marshal reserves In
order to ward on a formal rationins
order.
Capture Of Dutch East Indies oil
reserves by Japan means that Amer
ican ships will have to transpor,
the petroleum necessary to supply
the United Nations armed force.
there. That adds to the country's
convoy trouble and tightens the
domestic supply. Nor is that all
Now that the direct sea route
from Britain to Australia is threat
ened, wool and foods which Britain
previously got from Australia may
have to be furnished by the United
States. That not only aggravates
the trans s-Atlantic convoy difficulties
but increases the lend-lease drsft
upon our food stocks.