Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-11
Compulsory Transfer
To War Work Made
Possible by VINO
Nv MIRIAM GUTENBERG

BY MIRIAM GUTENBERG.
Able-bodied men In nonwar work
today faced compulsory transfer to
war jobs in areas where less drastic
measures fail to solve manpower
shortages in urgently needed pro-
duttion.
Under new War Manpower Com
mission regulations, issued last
night, workers qualified for war Jobs
who refuse to move out OF less
essential work when tapped" by
VINO will have to be fired by their
present boss.
This was described as a last
resort" measure by VINO spokes-
men but one which, they contend,
is authorized under the Presidents
war powers.
The new regulations implement
the instructions issued by War
Mobilization Director Byrnes last
week to focus VINO efforts on man.
ming specific plants and industries
where dangerous manpower short
ages exist.
Special Measures Provided.
While the regulations call for a
general tightening up in WINGS
priority referral program. which has
been in effect six weeks, special
measures are provided for ito the
extent necessary In any area" to
meet labor requirements for critic
ally needed items.
Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, COM
manding general of the Army Serv-
ice Forces, whose warnings about
production shortages preceded the
Byrnes' directive. told WINGS Man.
agement-Labor Committee Just be-
fore the new WHO order was issued
that ION the whole" the Army is in
fine shape but is short about 800
critical items.
The general listed thousands of
miles Of pipe. 10000 heavy trucks,
tires. ammunition of various types,
tanks, aircraft equipment. radar and
radio equipment. construction equip
ment, tractors, artillery cranes, der
rlcks. bulldozers and shovels as some
of the war materials in which there
are shortages.
Example Of Shortage Given.
He told of one example where a
general had to call off 100 air mis-
sions because he didn't have the
right type Of bombs although he
might have had plenty of another
kind Of bombs.
VINO said it was trying to elm
mate these spotty shortages by the
following measures where necessary:
/. Limiting job choices for men to
high priority firms. Previously Job
seekers were given a wide choice of
jobs in urgent production, essential
activities or locally needed work.
2. Permitting only high priority
firms to hire at the gate" or pro-
cure workers without clearance from
the USES.
5. Getting assurances from pro-
duction representatives that less
urgently needed work in top pri-
GRITTY firms will be curtailed to re-
lease qualified workers for the
urgent jobs within the same plant,
4. Tightening up on granting
statements of availability or lob
releases by the USES and urging
essential employers to be less liberal.
5. Recruiting from outside criti-
cal labor shortage areas.
6. Making an effort to get con-
tracts withdrawn from an area
where labor requirements exceed
the supply.
7. Reducing the number of work.
ers employed in less essential. To-
cally needed and even. some essen
tial activities.
Releases Can Be Forced.
When an area VINO director and
his management labor committee
decide these measures fail to pro-
vide enough workers for urgent pro-
auction, the regulations authorize
the area director to start requiring
the release of male workers with
the needed occupational qualifca-
tons from less essential work.
VINO had counted on drawing
the men needed 10 man urgent pro-
duction in labor short areas from
the surplus labor areas, but this
supply has not been adequate. a
VINO spokesman admitted. At this
stage in the war, he explained
workers are reluctant to leave their
homes, particularly for Jobs they
know are only for the duration of
the war. In any case, he said. the
military wanted production bottle
necks broken in hurry.
The new program will have little
If any effect on women workers be-
cause most of the jobs to be filled
require Drawn for hot, dirty. heavy
work" it was explained. On the
other hand, employers in less essen
tial activities are being urged to
put women in the jobs now filled bv
able bodied men.