Evening star., 1944-10-04
II Plants Closed
In Detroit Strike;
$4,000 Are Idle.
NewCIosinesAffect
Another $4,000
Called Probable
By the Associated Press,

SOilSO fODODiS
By the Associated Press.
DETROIT. Oct. 4.-The huge
war production program in the
Detroit area was impaired today
as maintenance workers in more
than a score of factories began a
strike which their union officers
said earlier would be deferred
pending a meeting with the War
Labor Board.
Before noon 5000 maintenance
employees had left their jobs, IL
plants had been closed down and
more than $4,000 workers had been
sent home. Maintenance workers
in 10 other factories had left their
Jobs and additional closings affect
ing another $4,000 or more workers
were said by company spokesmen ss
probable.
The strike grew out of a dispute
between the Maintenance, Construc-
ton and Powerhouse Workers Coun-
Gil Of the United Automobile Work.
ers (CIO) and the War Labor Board
over procedure for handling wage
demands.
Council Represents $4,000.
The council represents $4,000
men in more than 300
plants In the Detroit area, including
every large and small auto
motive plant. Union officials have
said that strike by all the mainte-
nance workers would directly and
indirectly affect several hundred
thousand workers in the Detroit
area and paralyze the war produc-
tion effort.
Closed this forenoon were seven
plants OF the Briggs Manufacturing
Co., where l,100 were on strike ard
10000 workers had been sent home:
the wyoming avenue plant OF the De
Soto division of Chrysler Corp: the
Chrysler East Jefferson avenue
plant and two factories of the
Kelsey Hayes Wheel Co.
Others affected but maintaining
curtailed operations included the
Packard Motor Car Co. plant, Amer
lean Metal Products, three Hudson
Motor Car Co. factories, L. A. Young
Spring d. Wire Co., Timken-Detroit
Co, Continental Motors Corp.
Chrysler tank arsenal and Zenith
division of Bendix Ayia-
ton Corp.
Work on B-29's Affected.
Most of the factories are engaged
IN various types of aircraft manu-
facture. A Briggs spokesman said
the strike had halted work on the
B-29 Super Fortress bombers. me-
dium bombers, fighters, tanks and
Army and Navy anti-aircraft guns
approximately $500 workers were
idle for a time today at two Nash
Kelvinator Corp. plants in Lansing
in a dispute over layoff procedure
but they resumed work after a vote
to await the outcome of conciliation.
Production of plane propellors for
the Army Air Forces had been
halted.
Unequal Pay Claimed.
The maintenance workers dis
pute involves wages paid CIC
and AFL maintenance men. The
CIO> union, in demanding an
investigation by WLB, claimed its
men were paid less than AFL-
affiliated employees and that it had
failed in efforts to obtain equal
ization" through WLB.
In Washington, the WLB
planned to confer at l pm. with
maintenance workers commit
tee, but emphasized that the dis
cussion would be limited to pos
sible procedures in handling the
workers grievances and demands.
(WLB officials said the merits
of the demands would not be
considered while there was an
interruption of production, even
though the tie-up was unauthor-
lied by the union.)
Spokesman for the CIO union
estimated that 100000 war work.
ers could be affected by strike of
maintenance workers. The union
claims a membership of 80, 900 main-
tenance men in 800 plants.
Grounded on Trip Here.
Members of committee ap-
pointed by the council headed for
Washington by plane yesterday, but
We're grounded at Pittsburgh. WLB
Chairman William H. Davis assured
them by telegram, however, that
the board would discuss the issue
with them on their arrival.
Mr.. Davis said the unions cases
with General Motors Corp, Pack
ard Motor Car Co. and the Briggs
Manufacturing Co. were the only
ones duly certified so far with the
board, and that If further case,
were certified "the board will take
such further action as Is appropriate
under its procedure"
George F. Adde's, UAW-CIO sec.
retary treasurer, who is meeting
with other International Executive
Board members in Atlantic City, N
j., had protested that AFL and pub
lie members of the WLB had com.
bined to block efforts to obtain what
ne termed an equalization of wage
rates paid CIC-afiiliated smainte.
nance men and AFL men doins
similar work under private con.
tractors.
Adheres to Decision.
MIR. Davis replied that athe full
board, having thoroughly reviewed
this problem, adheres, CIO members
dissenting, to Its former decision on
the question OF outside craftsmen
~ presented at that time"
a company spokesman said /
major portion" Of the workers did
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