The CIO news. (Cumberland, Md.) 1942-????, 1943-02-15
OPA Sets Up
Price CHECKING

BY ELEANOR FOWLER
CIO Womes's Aaxiiiaries

OPA wants $1,000 volunteer price
checkers. This is news that CIO
auxiliaries, along with the rest of
the labor movement have been
waiting for for almost a year. 1t
marks the beginning of real eff
fort TO secure compliance with price
control and rationing regulations
throughout the country. And it's
our responsibility to see that the
system works.
Here is the plan. An order has
already gone out that a price panel
shall be set up in each of the $500
war price and rationing boards. The
price panel Is to be composed of
three people appointed In the same
manner as other board members.
The suggestion is that one labor
representative and one lawyer be
included on the panel.
Six to twelve volunteer price
checkers are to be recruited to
work under the direction Of each
price panel. They will register
for this work with OCD. They
will be trained. will pass examina-
lions and will be issued creden-
tials as official representatives Of
OPA. They will start work about
April 1 when the new system Of
food prices Is expected to go into
effect.
Each volunteer will be assigned
to ten or more retail food stores.
The first job will be to visit each
store and explain the new regula-
tions. After an interval Of more
training the volunteers will go back
to each store to check on whether
there has been proper posting of
prices. Finally, after still another
training period. the volunteers will
be prepared to check on complaints.
HOW THEY'LL WORK
The volunteers will report regu-
larly to the price panel of their
price and rationing boards. II any
Of the stores they are checking re-
peatedly violate regulations, the
price panel will call in the store
keeper and discuss the matter with
him. II he still does not comply,
they will report the case to the
district Office of OPA for investiga-
ton and action by paid OPA In
spectors.
Volunteers will not be expected
to bring suit against retailers, or
to testify against them in court
cases. Their function and that Of
the price panel will be to be sure
that the merchant understands
OPA regulations and c0rrects any
errors he may make.
Here's chance for housewives to
see that price control works. Here's
a chance to help eliminate the black
market. Let's get busy. Recruiting
of volunteers starts now. II you can
promise TO give three or four hours,
two or three days a week to price
checking, register now with your
local civilian defense volunteer Of
flee as price checker.
STEEL SCRAP NEEDED
President Murray has called on
all CLIO unions and auxiliaries to
help meet the critical scrap short
age which prevents about produc-
ton of badly needed steel for all
types Of war supplies. He points
out that 100000 tons of steel and
10000 tons Of pure tin can be re-
covered from tin cans.
Here's a program every CLIO
housewife can participate In. Save
every tin can. wash IL and remove
the label. remove the top and
bottom, lay them inside the can
and step on 1t. Find out from your
local salvage committee when col
lections will be made.
Joint action by union and auxil-
larry salvage committees to enlist
every CLIO home in the tin can sal
wage drive Is urged by the Congress
Of Women's Auxiliaries Of the CLIO
in the February Washington news
letter.