Evening star., 1943-04-10
WLb 10 Press Cases
Of Wage |nequities
Under Price Order
$4,000 Disputes Before
Board Lose Time Equity
Choirmon Davis Says

Chairman Davis Says
Although stripped of its discre-
tionary power to correct inequalities
in pay as a result Of President
Roosevelt's hold the line order"
which vested such authority in
James F. Byrnes, economic stabili-
zation director, the War Labor
Board said today it would call to
the attention of Mr. Byrnes cases
Of inequalities which it believes
justify action.
The Presidents order found the
board with a case load of more than
$1,000 voluntary applications and
disputes in various stages of action.
Chairman William H. Davis said
the executive order bars completely
any time equity" for workers whose
cases had not been acted on by 7:30
pm. Thursday when the order was
issued, though up to then many of
the workers had been reasonably
sure of retroactive increases to cor
rect inequalities.
Order Called Clear.
The time equity" factor was used
by the WLB last July in the Little
Steel decision. in which it granted
additional pay because the demands
OF the workers had been filed in
February, two months before the
President announced his first stabil-
1zation program.
Mr.. Davis, in press conference
after the board met with Mr.. Byrnes,
said the executive order was quite
clear that the WLB no longer is
authorized to grant increases on
the basis of Inequalities or gross
inequities, and to aid in successful
prosecution of the way" He OBJ
served. however:
IF I found class of cases in
which this executive order brought
about gross inequities which could
be corrected without any unstabiliz-
ing effect. and particularly when
they would not affect price ceilings,
I would vote for calling it to the
attention Of the director"
He said he was not referring to a
single case but to group of cases
which might fall into that category.
Closest Agency to Labor.
Wayne L. Morse, also a public
member of the WLB, said, The
board will remain the closest agency
to the whole labor program" and
that as it becomes more familiar
with the program it will have a re-
sponsibility to advise Mr.. Byrnes of
problems as they arise.
Mr.. Davis said two important gen.
eral orders of the board remain in
effect. One exempts employers of
eight individuals or less from the
requirements of getting board ap-
proval of wage increases. The other
permits adjustments in the case of
individual promotions, merit in
creases within established rate
ranges and incentive plans. He
emphasized, however, that incen-
tive plans must have been already
In effect. In the case of employers
Of eight or less, regional boards still
have the power of withdrawing the
exemptions If it is found they have
an unstabiliZing effect.
The bulk of the cases on file are
voluntary applications filed with
the regional boards by employers
alone or jointly with unions. Rec
ords OF the regional boards show
that we'll over half OF the voluntary
applications filed have been ap-
proved partly or wholly on the basis
Of Inequalities.
VINO Hints Fund Handicap,
Meanwhile, the War Manpower
Commission, faced with the gigantic
task of patrolling job-switching
throughout the country, intimated
1t was handicapped by inadequate
funds. However, it announced that
in the near future" it would make
public Its program under the Presi-
dents order authorizing it to pre-
vent workers from switching to
higher paid jobs unless such shifts
would aid in the war effort.
The principal VINO agency for
supervising job transfers and hiring
is the United States Employment
Service, and Congress has thrice
turned down pleas by Manpower
Chieftain Paul V. McNutt for funds
to strengthen" it.
At present the VINO has taken
control over transfers and hiring in
but so communities. doing so through
employment stabilization plans"
set up locally.
Extension of Principle"
Under the existing rules in the so
communities, workers moving from
one essential employer to another
are required to get release from
their old employer or. if he refuses
to grant it. certificate of avail
ability from the Employment Serv-
ice. The prospective new employer
Is forbidden to hire a worker from
an essential employer without a re-
lease or certificate.
The Presidents order" a VINO
statement said, simply extends to
Nationwide basis the principle of
the so employment stabilization
plans already in effect
In the stabiliza ton plans we have
certificates of availability and these
are not available merely because
man can get more pay or get some
personal advantage.
The whole theory of stabilization
has been to use men and women
where they can be most effective in
the war effort and this is what the
Presidents order does nationally.
The order spells out the powers
which the War Manpower Commits
sion has had previously and
strengthens its hand in carrying out
these powers"