Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-10-20

W "llIC lks vi COuIoC, UdStC
training is no bed of roses
and there may be times when
Eddie will say "tO heck with
it," or words to that effect,
and turn in for some much
needed rest. On the other
hand, this is the first time in
weeks that our cOlumniSt has
turned in his column ahead
of time, so the editor thinks
the Army has done him some
good already.
OLIVE DRAB
Having been selected by my
friends and neighbors as be-
ing of G.. l. calibre, l find
myself spending this Sunday
evening in the recreation
room of the Camp Atterbury
Service Club (amidst dozens
of WACS), attempting to con-
centrate on writing a column,
while the phonograph blats
forth an unending program of
hillbilly music.
My Army career is not yet
three days old, but here l am,
decked out in full military
regalia, and trying hard to
forget that | am a union or
ganizer. / understand that the
Army has a closed shop, al
though two young gentlemen
who were doing K. P. this
afternoon expressed their de-
sire for organization when
they discovered my identity.
No dice
CURBSTONE OPINION
1t is just curbstone opin-
ion, at this early stage of the
game, but frankly, the doleful
and woebegone attitude of a
few of my fellow inductees is
bit uncalled-for. The food
is good, the quarters are liv-
able, though unpretentious,
and everyone seems to be try
ing to be friendly and con-
siderate toward us--even our
superior officers go out of
their way to wise us up on
the dos and don'ts of Army
life.
| have met several CIO
Rubber Workers from Akron
who are living in our bar
racks. In fact, three of them
kept me awake on the train,
holding post-mortems on their
recent shop grievances. Also
in our group there are sew
eral Steel Workers from
Cleveland. Thi3 morning at
breakfast | explained the COM
ing break of from 8 to II
per cent in the Little Steel
formula, and predicted retro
activity. They are now alocat-
ing the anticipated back-pay
checks. If something slips up
here, | hope we get shipped
to different camps!
MORE DUTIES
A little fellow named Poole,
who halls from---, recog-
nized me and introduced him
self. He has a brother at
Auto-Lite, and is a brother
in-law of Floyd Brinkley from
the same plant. initiated
boy from Acklin, named
Vernon Bowman, in the
Cleveland Induction Center
last Friday. He had paid his
initiation fees, but failed to be
obligated. l guess my duties
will never stop, from the looks
of things!
This morning, while in line
at the Classification Building,
| explained how most of local
l2's shops give military bo-
muses. to their employees.
Someone asked Vernon what
Acklin gave, and he replied,
"A rabbit and they also give
you two days (without pay)
in which to CATCH IT." He
drew quite a laugh.
G. rs AMAZED
The G.. rs were amazed to
hear how Servicemen from
Auto-Lite are sent monthly
checks of three dollars, do
mated by their fellow work.
ers, and they really blew
their tops" when | told them
of the many invaluable items
for Servicemen which are
found in the Willys Overland
Units gift boxes.
Well, there's a swell USO
stage show downstairs, and
I'll have TO slip down and see
what's going on now. Every
ones whistling, so | suppose
it's a tap dancing act.
I'll try to continue this col
umn each week, and in clos
ing let me say that I'm sorry
| couldn't stay until the Auto
Lite and Packard wage nego-
tlations were completed, but
they tell me there's a war
going on.