Evening star., 1944-07-25
Union Asks Roosevelt
To Seize Wright Corp.
lockIand Factory
Output at Huge PIont
Reported CurtoiIed by
Row Over Suspensions
BY the Associated Press.

| bs tne hhsOClateo fTess,
CINCINNATI. July 25.-The
United Automobile Workers
(CIO) asked President Roose-
welt today to order immediate
seizure" OF the huge Lockland
plant Of the Wright Aeronautical
Corp, scene of a dispute in
which union officials declared
they had been locked out" and
that production had virtually
ceased"
| The plant is one of the largest
airplane engine factories in the
United States.
Robert Spitzmiller, president Of
the UAW local at the huge plant
telesraphed Mr.. Roosevelt that the
company had suspended all union
officers. committeeman and $50 shop
and chief stewards, the latter the
union members direct representa-
tives.
Action of the Wright Aeronauti-
cal management against the union
has created situation that makes
it impossible for the union to func-
tion.' the telegram said. go
Production of vitality needed air.
craft engines has virtually ceased.
We urge you to order immediate
tho
visions of the existing contract,
which will restore full production"
s,000 Reported Idle.
Mr.. Spitzmiller said later that as
many as 5000 to 5000 of the plants
$4,000 employees had left their jobs
lin mass reaction to company
injustice"
Mr.. Spitzmiller said he did not
have specific information on the ef-
feet on engine production but added
that four of the six shops were re-
ported down and that production
would be impossible under such con-
ditions The number of idle en-
ployes is growing, he said. with 200
cafeteria workers joining the STOP
page.
/ An independent source estimated
that $50 to 1000 workers were idle
in the foundries but a company
statement said production con-
tinued as usual
Both sides attributed the Incl
dent to suspension of a union COM
mitteeman, Gilbert Thomas. The
company said he used abusive and
obscene language to supervisor in
the presence of woman employe." "
Woman Reported Injured.
Robert Spitzmiller. union presi-
dent, and william Beckham. chair
man of the bargaining committee,
said they and all union committee
men and executive board members
had been locked out" MI. Beck
ham added that 200 union stew
ards, committeeman and employees
were elected by armed guards last
night and that one woman was in
jured.
Mr.. Beckham said Mr. Thomas
was suspended for 'belligerency''
while investigating an employees S
protest against transfer.
The union group, he said, gath
cred at the administration build
ng and the guards rushed us and
elected us" and locked the gates,
thus preventing Army men and
. others who were reporting for over
time work from entering"
The company statement said Mr.
Thomas was escorted to the per-
sonnel Office by an armed guard
There, the statement said, Thomas
telephoned union steward "tl
gather all available stewards and
come to the personnel office, where
a minor demonstration by some 2(
to 80 persons followed"
THE management cannot treat
with suspended employees under con-
ditions which approximate mob
rule" the statement continued, land
guards were instructed to escort
the demonstrators from the plant
Those escorted from the plant are
Temporarily suspended until each
4 Svnl lfrrtI