Evening star., 1944-04-07
UAW War Veterans
Will Seek Postwar
O-Hour Work Week

A 30-hour- work week at 40-houl
pay for all workers after the wal
was advocated today by the con-
ference of war veterans meeting al
the Statler Hotel under the au-
spices of the United Automobile
Workers, CIO.
The conference voted to seek Fed
eral legislation for the short work
week to spread employment and
give working people their just
share in the benefits in technical
progress"
Before the two-day conference
ended at noon, the $50 delegates
also:
Advocated immediate creation of
Government agency to be known
as the Peace Production Board to
develop plans for the orderly recon-
version of industry.
Urged Government retention of
Federally-owned plants in monopo-
listic industries or in industries
strategic to national welfare and
defense.
IndOrse Public Works.
Supported permanent public
work sprogram as part of heal
thy. expanding economy" This
program would include the develop
ment of housing community build
ings. such as hospitals, schools and
recreational centers; flood control
and power development, rural elec-
trification, waterways, highways and
airportS.
Urged cooperation among indus
try, Government and labor in PLAN
ming for full production and full
employment.
The conference decided yester-
day against setting up new
veterans group and voted instead to
encourage its former servicemen
members to join and become active
in existing organizations to foster
'prolabor sentiment on the councils
of those organizations
AN organization composed only
of union members or even inStigated
by organized labor" the resolution
said, would be isolated from the
rest of the veterans and the other
veterans organizations"
AT the same time, the conference
agreed not to support any of the
existing veterans groups at this
time but to set up a Veterans De-
partment instead to consider this
and other problems relating to
former servicemen as they may arise.
In other actions yesterday the con-
ference:
RECOMMENDED that returning
sefvicemen unable to take their old
jobs in plant because of war in
juries be given seniority on a plant
wide basis and be allowed to take
any job they are able to perform.
Service Pay Proposal.
Supported legislation now before
Congress adjusting service pay to
provide for SO a day for every day
of active service within the United
States, with minimum of $100 and
maximum of $500; and 81 a day
for-overSeeS and Alaska service, with
minimum of $500 and a maximum
of S4,500 Wounded veterans would
receive an additional $500
Urged all labor unions that have
not already done so to waive pay
ment Of initiation or reinstatement
fees for returning war veterans.
Meanwhile, Representative Ran
kin, Democrat, of Mississippi said
he had not received the 10-inch
wooden sWastika which q delegation
of war.yeterans from the conference
left with employees in his office yes
terday ''aS a token of their con-
tempt" for his attitude on the SOL
dier vote bill In a statement, Mr..
Rankin said:
My office force reports to me that
about 80 individuals who looked like
foreigners stormed into my office
this morning and undertook to take
pictures over the protests of the
clerks in my Office.
They were routed by the police
who caught the photographer and
took the films away from him. If
they had anything to present to me,
they evidently took it with them
This is not the first time Com
munists have invaded the House
Office Building under false pre-
tenSaS"