Evening star., 1943-09-03
VINO Begins Drive
10 Recruit Women
For Vital War Jobs

r0l vHdl War Jobs
In the face of repeated demands
from the armed forces for national
service legislation, the War Man
power Commission set in motion to-
day a Nationwide campaign to
make women aware" they are the
only remaining source of labor
supply.
While VINO officials refused to
discuss the possibilities of labor
draft to force the needed 2,000, 900
women into war jobs, they admitted
they had no formula to assure the
women would 60 to work.
On the other hand, they admitted
women are leaving industry almost
as fast as others are entering it.
This they attributed partly to the
lack of community facilities and
partly to ain Its in the bag" war
philosophy.
Labor Force Declining.
In addition to that turnover, VINO
officials reported that the record
in July-l7, 100, ,000-was a tempo
rary record and that "in actual fact
the rate of increase in the year
round labor force in recent months
has been declining"
Part of the summer increase has
been girls who are expected to re-
turn to school in the fall.
VINO reported that at present the
most available source of supply con-
sists of nonfarm housewives between
the ages of 20 and IS without chill
dren under 16.
In April, this group numbered
5600,000 which, on national
basis, appears to constitute an ade-
quate reserve of potential women
workers"
VINO added, however, that be-
cause the demand for women is ~
called in tight labor areas and be-
cause recruitment is on complete
ly voluntary basis, there is no as
surance that an adequate number
of women will enter the labor mar
ket where they are needed"
Need Million Workers.
On the other hand, the munitions
industries must have million more
women workers by January to meet
production schedules. That is net
increase, not taking into account
the women leaving war jobs
Army and Navy officials concerned
with tagging production contend
they can't count on the uncertain
ties of women volunteering for war
jobs, particularly since the recruit
ment rate is slowing down.
Even inside the VINO a number of
officials are reported convinced that
voluntary methods won't meet the
demands of the next six months.
While War Mobilization Direc-
tor Byrnes has been studying the
problem for some time, he is re-
ported still undecided whether to
ask Congress for national service
legislation or to make the VINO
utilize the semi-compulsory methods
suggested in the Presidents execu-
tive order of last December-meth-
DDS which so far have not been used.
Recall Presidents Order.
In his manpower order, the Presi-
dent provided that no employer
could hold any worker whose serv-
ices were needed more urgently else
where and that hiring where neces-
sary could be conducted solely
through the United States Employ
ment Service. Some officials have
interpreted this provision to mean
that VINO could order transfers of
workers from less essential to more
essential work instead of using such
indirect methods as the work
fight" program.
In line with VINO comment that
plant and community facilities and
services bear direct relationship
with attracting women to war jobs
and holding them there. Senator
Ball, Republican, of Minnesota yes
terday suggested that If other in
dustrialists would emulate the Kaiser
and Higgins shipyards, the man.
power problem would be eased and
perhaps solved.
He cited the testimony given by
Henry j. Kaiser and Andrew j. Hig-
gins before the Truman Committee
last March and declared he believed
production could be stepped up. Mr..
Kaiser had said that good housing,
good transportation and orderly
material yards were important fac
tors in establishing production
records.
Kaiser Had Plan.
Both Mr.. Kaiser and Mr.. Higgins
told Of seeking to solidify pride in
their organizations and encourage
as large participation in manage
ment by labor as was practicable.
Senator Ball indicated that in
centive pay for extra production
efforts might be one means to speed
the output of the war plants.
The VINO report on women
power suggested part-time or split
shift arrangements to enable more
women to work, adequate medical
care and eating facilities, a coun-
selling service. child care facilities,
special shopping services and ade-
ouate laundry, fuel and food dis
tribution in the community.