Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-04

ne dNdlu HOl OlllN ltIl DtlOW
the workers demands but was
beneath general pay increases
proposed last July by two of the
California companies. That in
Dictated that the majority Of the
board is determined 10 stick by
the Little Steel formula.
The boards determination TO
preserve the sterilization policy
was considered a virtual challenge
to John l.. Lewis. whose United
Mine Workers seek a S2-a-day
wage increase in direct contravep-
ton Of the formula. The miners
have received the maximum in
crease allowed under that formula,
ALLOWS Is PER CENT
The Little Steel formula allows
cost of living wage increases not
10 exceed IS per cent cost of wages
paid on Jan. |. 1871 Additional
increases can be onay for the cor
.rection Of inequalities. incquities,
substandard pay or for the effec-
tive prosecution of the war.
The boards ruling was disputed
by MorSe-who disagreed with the
three other public members for
the first time on a major case
and by the labor members.
Morse, who emphasized he did
not agree with certain labor men,
bers that Sterilization Director
James F. Byrnes had influenced
the majority's decision, termed the
Little Steel formula inapplicable
to the airframe industry because
iof employment expansion and
changes in production methods. job
lclassifications and other employ
ment factors since January, 1871.
DISSENTING OPINION
Asserting in q dissenting opinion
that. if the dispute had been
handled quickly and efficiently
whe nit first arose. the workers
would have received a general in
crease, Morse said ''it follows that
III is only fair to give them that
increase now"
The labor members contended
in their dissenting opinion that a
general increase "of at least 10
cents an hour" should have been
approved.
They accused the WLB of "a
dereliction of duty in refusing to
use all the instruments at its COM
mand to fashion a wage policy
which can most fully contribute to
the effective prosecution of the
war"
No less important than the
WLB majority's wage ruling was
its order that uniform pay
schedules be established at the
California plants, based on the
principle of equal pay for equal
work and designed to eliminate a
barrier to top production.
10 LABOR GRADES
The board cited as representa-
tive of current, allegedly chaotic
a classification in which
many workers now receive only IS
cents an hour while others get
81 Is an hour for substantially the
same job.
The boards plan, which it hoped
would eliminate inequalities and
stabilize the industry, is the job
schedule proposed by
the in dus try and called the
Southern California Aircraft In
1ustry Plan"
The plan consists of 10 labor
grades with minimum and MAXI
mum rates ranging from rs cents
r nhour 10 $1.45 and only 291
rated occupations instead of the
1,154.
The WLB said the rate ranges
were based on prevailing rates in
the industry and in comparable
- especially aircraft
parts work.
The board refused 10 boost rates.
TO the considerably higher ship
levels because-accordingI
to WLB Chairman William H.
Davis, who wrote the majority
opinion-such action would only
lead to a new cycle Of wage I'M
creases and a new general wage
level on the West Coast"
MAY BE CHANGED
Boeing. where inequalities are
fare less prominent than at the
other plants, is to maitain its
present Job classification schedule,
but II may be changed through
bargaining, the WLBl
directed.
Companies involved in the case
include, besides Boeing. the fol-
lowing California plants:
Consolidated Aircraft Corp
San Diego; Douglas Aircraft Co,
FL Segundo. Long Beach and
Santa Monica: Lockheed Aircraft
Corp. Burbank: North American
Aviation, Inc, Inglewood; North
rop, Aircraft, Inc, Hawthorne;
Ryan Aeronautical Co, San Diego;
Vega Aircraft Corp, Burbank, and
Vultee Aircraft, Inc, Downey.