Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-26
General Strike
Threat Follows
Boeiing Tie-Up
Fortress Workers
Back on Jobs; Quick
WLB Action Sought
picture on Page A-3.)
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
SEATTLE, Feb. 26-Thousands
or aircraft workers who produce
the Boeing Flying Fortresses re-
turned to their Jobs here today in
an atmosphere made tense by
their union leaders threats Of
general work stoppages in this
and other plane producing GEN.
tiers unless the War Labor Board
speeds a decision on their long
standing wage dispute.
On Washington, a spokesman
Tor the board said the case had
been receiving continuing con-
slderation and was scheduled to
be the first order of business
today" From Wayne l.. Morse.
public member of the board,
came a statement indicating the
board did not intend to be rushed
INTO decision. He said ruling
would be made when members
feel they can act intelligently.'
(Mr. Morse said he is certain
the board will not be coerced into
decision, and the workers
should be ashamed of their gov
eminent if it would yield to d.
rect action by any group, en-
ployas, employers or anybody
else"
asked whether yesterdays
stoppage would delay a decision
until an investigation is made. he
said; My understanding is that
work has ben resumed and so
long as there isn't any direct
action the board will continue to
consider the merits of the case.
1t is doing SO today.")
Workers Stage Parade.
Three Boeing plants in the Seattle
area closed down for three hours
yesterday after a downtown mass
meeting and parade drew a crowd
OF workers estimated at 10000 by
AFL officials. The company said
close to 81 per cent of its workers
had left at the lunch hour to attend.
From the meeting came a loudly
approved resolution calling for a
24-hour around-the-clock meeting
Monday if the War Labor Board
fails to return a favorable decision
by Sunday night in the West Coast
aircraft wage sterilization case.
The resolution threatened to call
for similar action by two branches
of the Aeronautical Mechanics
Union in California If the decision
is not handed down by Tuesday
midnight.
After Wednesday midnight, under
the explanation of the resolution
given the meeting by its sponsor, the
unions international would be asked
to call on all AFL aircraft unions in
the Nation to join in a similar pro-
test.
Text of Resolution.
The text of the resolution follows:
IF a directive is not issued on air.
craft wages based on common sense
and the conditions under which it
was asked is not forthcoming be-
fore midnight Sunday, February %,
that Monday morning, at 1890 am,
the LIST day of March, the members
OF the Aeronautical Mechanics
Union will hold a 24-hour general
meeting and will proceed to unfln-
lShed business and from then on will
wait for the War Labor Board to
give it's decision.
If the decision is not forthcoming
by Monday. midnight, we will ask
Local 1l25 burbank, Calif) to call
a similar meeting. If no decision Is
forthcoming by Tuesday midnight.
we will ask Local 727 consolidated
Aircraft, San Diego, Calif.) to take
the same action.
IF no action Is forthcoming by
Wednesday midnight, we will ask
that our international union call a
general meeting of all aircraft locals.
We also ask Washington Con-
gressmen and Senators and the
California congressional delegates
to ask for an immediate audience
with President Roosevelt and have
him intercede and issue a directive
to WLB to issue decision.
VIC doh Vic w LID W sup
sidering crack-pot recommendation
Of Paul Porter CWLB representative
and that decision be handed down
in keeping with the American way
of life and standards of living"
Unions Purpose Explained.
In offering the resolution, Ed
Craig, union District Council dele
gate, explained that the 24-hour
meeting would mean that "all shifts
will report to the civic auditorium
or some other meeting place instead
of going to work"
Later, Harold Gibson, president
of the district lodge, expressed be-
lief that call for work stoppages
was not the intent of the resolu-
tons trainers. because the local
and the international are opposed
to work stoppages."
Company Gives Statement.
A company statement charged
that the persons who inspired the
workers" to leave their Jobs were.
in effect, taking direct action
against our armed forces" and Brig.
Gen. Charles E. Branshaw. district
supervisor of the Army Air Forces,
termed the workers action little
less than reasonable"
The company also reported that
Harvey w. Brown, president of the
International Association of Ma
chinsts in Washington, and James
A. Duncan, grand lodge representa-
tive of the international, had been
advised and had admitted that this
walkout is contrary to the spirit
of the war effort and the agreement
(See ROEING Pace Al