Evening star., 1943-05-25
Pickefs Block Return
OF Rubber Workers,
All Production Halls
Number Of Idle Employees
Rises to 49, 900 Despite
Army's Request
BY the Associated Press,

AKRON, Ohio, May 25.-Three
major rubber companies reported all
production ceased today as the num-
Der OF CIO employees idle in a pro-
test against q War Labor Board wage
decision rose to $4,000. despite
War Department. demand for re-
sumption Of work.
Several hundred pickets forming
a shoulder-to-shoulder barricade at
three gates to Goodyear Tire g. Rub.
Der Co.'S Nc. l plant turned back
workers employed on the first day
shift. ~ ,
Crowds started gathering in 'front.'
OF the plant on Akron's East Side
more than an hour before the usual
time for change Of shifts. Some mem
were elected forcibly as other pushed
them through the picket line, butt
there was no violence. :
Idleness Sets Record. :
Only plant guards and supervis-. ::
ory employees were permitted to.
enter, and three hours after the.
picket line formed the crowds thin
ned out. A Goodyear spokesman.
said $4,000 CIO United RUBBER
Workers were idle at all its plants
excepting Goodyear Aircraft Corp.
subsidiary not affected by the work
stoppage. About $4,000 remained
idle for the fourth day at the 3. F.
Goodrich Co. and 1900 at the Fire
stone Tire & Rubber Co.
The three concerns normally ara
engaged in production Of gas masks,
barrage balloons, life belts, air.
plane de-icers, tank treads, anS--
aircraft guns. machine gun c~-
civilian and combat tires and E.fer.
war materials. :.
Idleness became the greatest in
the history of Akron's rubber indus-s
try few hours after James P.
Mitchell, industrial personnel di-
rector Of the Army Service Forces,
appealed for resumption Of produc-
ton.
Wires Union Chief.
Mr.. Mitchell dispatched a tele-
gram to Sherman H. Dalrymple,
international URW president, who
was in Washington for conferences
with the War Labor Board. Con-
tents of the wire were made public
by international URW Offices here
The stoppage of production Of :.
several plants in Akron in violation, !,
of your no-strike agreement has
caused grave concern to the War.
Department. Mr.. Mitchell stated.
THE products manufactured at:
these plants are highly essential and !.
every moment lost jeopardizes the !;
health and safety of our Armed !!
Forces. !;
1T is your patriotic obligation to
continue production without inter-:
ruption and to resolve any disputes; !;
by recourse to the civilian agencies !,
established for such purposes.
Follow Cut in Raise.
Unless there is immediate returni
to full production, we can only con-, Z,
clude that neither your agreement;
nor the welfare of our armed forces.
is of any Importance to the United;
Rubber Workers Union"
The work stoppages-described by:
union leaders as spontaneous-start
ed Saturday after the WLB pared
TO cents an hour its panels recon-.
mendation OF an Scent hourly wage
increase. /,
Workers straight time hourlvl
earnings were said by the WLB to.
average s1:l5-sl.20, and Goodrich:
reckoned its factory employees April:
pay, including overtime, averaged
s1.3l an hour and $50 weekly. The,
case was certified to the WLB nearly;
year ago !.
In newspaper advertisement the.
unions attributed the walkout to a.,
lack of confidence in the fairness.
and impartiality of the WLB"
Something to sell? Something to-,
buy: Use Star Want Ad." Phone.
MA. 5000.