Evening star., 1944-12-17
Davis Attacks
Avery 5 Refusal
10 Boost Wages
Ward Head Accused
Of Evoding Issue
By Misstutements
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Cuocu NlUIlGSOIIleIy WdIu SlldlI-
man SeweH Avery of deliberately
misstating issues involved in the
strike against the company's De-
troit stores and asserted that
"Mr. Avery'S underpaid workers
are still waiting for justice to be
done them"
Mr.. Davis blast emphasized the
administrations intention Of final
showdown in the long labor struggle
with Mr. Avery in an effort to avert
what one WLB public member de-
scribed as a possible collapse of the
whole wartime wage stabilization
and labor control structure.
This public member declared that
continued successful defiance of
WLB rulings by Mr.. Avery would
supply the necessary encourage
ment to loose an irresistible torrent
of pent-up management pressure
against the Governments wartime
authority. This, in turn, would re-
lease pressure of labor elements
anxious to assert normal preroga-
tives to strike.
Repeats Misstatements."
Mr.. Davis said Mr.. Avery draws
a veil' over the company's refusal
to increase it's substandard wages"
by deliberately repeating all of his
familiar misstatements regarding
maintenance of membership"
The WLB chairman referred to
statement of issues" in the Detroit
controversy which MIR. Avery direct
ed to Ward employees and published
IN newspaper advertisements. In
his statement, Mr.. Davis said the
company head gives the impress
sion that maintenance of member
ship is the only issue involved in the
Detroit strike"
WLB has ordered Montgomery
Wary to comply by tomorrow night
with its directives regarding work.
ing conditions of employees in De-
troit and six other cities or face
sterner Government action.
1t became increasingly apparent
last night that Mr.. Avery intended
to ignore the new board ultimatum.
1t was considered likely that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would back up the
WLB by ordering Federal seizure
of properties in the seven cities and
possibly the entire Ward network
of stores and plants in hundreds
OF communities over the Nation.
Says Avery Ignores Refusal.
Nowhere does he (Avery) men,
ton the fact that for over six
months the company has not put
into effect the wage adjustments
directed by the War Labor Board"
Mr.. Davis asserted in his statement
last night.
These adjustments would in
crease the minimum basic salary
rate in the Detroit stores to s2023
for 44-hour week, or As cents an
hour, with diminishing increases to
those above the minimum.
Nowhere does Mr.. Avery state
that Bureau of Labor Statistics
survey, made at the companys own
suggestion. showed the company,s
rates to be below those of COM
parable stores in the community.
Mr.. Avery's statement also fails
to point out that the company has
refused to grant wage increases di-
rected by the board to correct sub
standards, not only in Detroit but
Portland, Oreg.; San Rafael, Calf;
Denver, Chicago (printing depart
ment and display factory; st. Paul
and Jamaica, N. Y.
Some of these orders date back
to the fall of 1943 and the re-
mainder to the spring and summer
of 1943.
"The increases have not been
made, despite the assurance given
by the company's counsel to the
House committee last spring that
lit had been the company's 'prac-
tice' from the beginning to accept
the wage orders or wage recon-
mendations of the War Labor
Board regardless of how unfair
they may have been.''
Mr.. Avery's underpaid workers
are still waiting for justice to be
done them"
Avery Refuses Comment.
In Chicago, Mr. Avery said thers
was nothing to be said at all" in
reference to Mr.. Davis statsment
but that a message probably would
be sent the War Labor Board early
this week.
Meanwhile. in Detroit the Ward
Co., confronted by picket lines of
striking CIO unionists at its four
stores, sought a second injunction
yesterday against violence and in
reference with its nonstriking en-
ployes.
The Associated Press reported
that the company, petitioning for q
temporary injunction in Wayne
tDetroit) County Circuit Court, al
legged that threats and violent acts
had, been directed against en-
ployes.
Circuit Judge John v. Brennan
deferred action until tomorrow, as
serting he wanted to study the Pc
tition thoroughly.
Friday the company obtained
from Oakland County Circuit Judge
Frank L. Doty a temporary order
restraining striking members of the
United Retail, Wholesale and De-
partment Store Employees Union
(CIO) from interfering with or mo-
testing employees of its store in SUBJ
urban Royal Oak This action fol-
lowed picket line disturbances in
which three Ward employees were re-
ported injured.
| Meanwhile, possibility of friction
between the CIO strikers and menu
Ibers of American Federation of La
Dor unions appeared as Frank x.
IMartel, Wayne County AFL leader.
claimed the AFL had 95 per cent Of
the employees of the Royal Oak
store as members and that en-
ployes Of one of the Wayne County
stores had requested AFL member.
ship.
Mr.. Martel, president Of the De.
(MCNTGCMERY WARN Do Ali