Evening star., 1942-08-12
Labor Piratine, Wage
And Copper Output
Problems Face j. ).
Pdy Freezing in Detroit
Area Asked; Shift of
Miners Considered
,, the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
Pressing labor problems in
volving pirating of workers in
war industries, unbalanced wage
situations and need for in
creased copper production, con-
fronted three Government agen-
cies today
At the instigation Of the War
Labor Board, the War Production
Board and the War Manpower Com
mission asked workers and en-
ployers in the big Detroit tool and
die industry last night to freeze
wages. and hiring and firing Of en-
ployes pending labor management
conference.
simultaneously, WPB was reported
considering the transfer of gold and
silver miners into copper mines to
increase production of the critically
scarce metal. The copper industry,
meantime, petitioned WLB for wage
increases, primarily as deterrent
to labor migration.
More Facts Wanted.
Question concerning wildcat strikes
In war industries. tagging war pro-
duction and possible remedial steps
also came before President Roose-
velt at press conference. He
wanted more facts and figures, how
ever. before he would comment.
The Government agencies re-
quest to the Detroit industry sug-
gested submitting to the conference
such issues as wage increases, and
methods of employment discourag-
Ing pirating of skilled workers.
The pending cases concern Ford
Chrysler, General Motors, the Auto
motive Tool and Die Manufacturing
Association and locals of the CIO
United Automobile Workers. If the
Detroit conference concurs in its
plan, WLB expressed agreement to
give final judgment on the wage
cases with decisions retroactive to
August IL. s-.
A WPB spokesman, meanwhile.
said the plan designed to increase
copper production had originated
In the Army's Services of Supply. 1t
was recognized, he added, that the
shifting of silver and gold miners
to copper mines would curtail output
of the precious metals and probably
mean closing of some mines.
Need for Copper Pay Raise Seen.
The boards labor production off,
cials also expressed belief wage ad-
justments might be necessary in the
copper industry to accomplish any
large scale shift. Much of the pres
ent shortage of miners was attrib-
uted to wages lower than the levels
In other war industries.
Other labor developments included
adoption by the Management-Labor
Policy Committee of the War Man.
power Commission Of a resolution
asking for an end to voluntary en-
listment in the armed services to
protect essential war industries from
q drain on skilled manpower and
allow more orderly recruitment OF
workers.
Demands Of war production, the
Works Projects Administration re-
ported, increased the average work
week of American workers one. hour,
from 45.7 to 46.7, during the year
ending June 30 Longer hours OF
farm workers, WPA said. accounted
for the greater part of the average
rise.
WLB. acting yesterday for the
first time on contracts negotiated
and submitted voluntarily, approved
wage increases of 5l7 cents an hour
Tor $4,000 employees of General
Electric and Westinghouse Electric
and Manufacturing companies.
A spokesman for the CIO United
Electrical and Radio Workers
Union, disclosing the boards ap-
proval, said it found the increase
fell within the wage formula pro-
mulgated in the Little Steel case
three weeks ago.