The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-09-17

lines:
aluminium Strike Threatened.
Strikes in Pennsylvania Coke
Field Threaten War Production.
Rail Wage Dispute Goes tc
Mediation"
Those were all in one issue OF
a newspaper-typical of the un-
rest which exists in war produc-
ton work and which still is in
terfering with maximum output.
A recent report by the War
LaGor board states that strikes
in war industries caused a loss
of 1,13O,678 man-days during the
first seven months of 1912. There
were strikes in 728 plants. The
board minimizes the importance
of these strikes, pointing out that
less than per cent of all war
workers were involved. but an
analysis of the report shows that
the condition is alarming, due
particularly to the fact that
strikes are now on the increase
rather than on the decrease.
The board admits that there
was a temporary lull in strikes
during January. following Pearl
Harbor, but that since then the
number of hours lost bv strikes
has increased greatly. In Janu-
airy. according to the report. there
were only 81 strikes. ONLY 10000
workers involved and $4,000 man.
DAYS of work lost. In july. how
ever. there were 222 strikes. 81
900 men involved and $4,000
man-days lost.
It is true that the national union
groups-the CLIO and the ALL
on the surface at least. have been
working to prevent strikes and
manv of those which have been
carried on have been called over
the objections Of the national la
Dor chiefs Put it is also true
that innumerable strikes. in in
dustries such as steel and ship
building. have been prevented
onlv because the War Labor
board hes insisted that the en-
rloyers Give in to the demands of
the workers.
The national union leaders are
demanding more power in the di-
rection of wa~ production. phillip
WDrrav. president of the CLIO and
William Green. president Of the
AFL. have told Donald Nelson,
head of the War Production
board, that a representative Of
labor should be given power e.
quail to his.
In a resolution passed by the
CLIO is was stated:
'Men and women from the
ranks of labor must be placed IN
responsible administrative posi-
tons in the War Production board
and all other agencies of the gov
eminent. The energy and brains
of labor through its representa-
tives could thus be utilized for
the good of the nation. There
need be no suspicion or distrust
of labor since its single objective
is to increase production in each
plant and in each industry
tho nation "
In this city, however, there IS
great suspicion as to labor's mo-
tives in seeking positions com
parable to Donald Nelson's and
it is believed by many that any
such move would end for the du-
ration of the war any possibility
of stabilizing wages or prevent
ing them from increasing to the
point where they would seriously
encourage initiation.
During the past week, the varl-
Gus plans for handling the draft
ing of men during the coming
year have been a major topic OF
discussion. Many plans have
been offered, but because of con-
fusion over each age and depend
ency group it is very difficult
to determine just how the call
will 60. It is generally assumed
that congress will enact leglsa-
ture right after the election to
take men in the, 18 and ~ year
age group and plans for calling
these men already have been
worked out.
Mai. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, d.
rector of selective service, has or
dered all draft boards to call all
available single men before any
married men are called. State
boards were ordered to rearrange
quotas so that the call in rural
areas, where some married men
already have been called, would
be slowed down until the rest OF
the single men in the cities had
been drafted. He also said that
men with dependents other than
wives and children should be call
ed before the family men.