Evening star., 1945-09-19
SuppIier Plant Strike
May Force Layoff Of
$4,000 GIN Workers
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
DETROIT, Sept. 19.-Idleness for
additional thousands In the Nation s
automobile industry was threatened
today by strike in a small Ohio
supplier plant.
With approximately 10000 work.
ers idle in the Detroit area by strikes
and related shutdowns, it was re-
ported in industry circles today that
some $4,000 General Motors workers
might have to be laid off If a con-
tinuing strike at the Packard Elec-
trical Co., Warren, Ohio, is not
ended before the coming week end
The Ohio company is the chief
supplier of electrical systems for
the Chevrolet, Buick and Olds-
mobile divisions of General Motors
At the General Motors Offices here
it was said no statement concern
ing the possible effects Of the elec-
trical company strike had been au-
thorized.
Wait and See Attitude.
There were no new developments
today in the threat OF the United
Automobile Workers (CIO) to seek
strike votes among the half million
workers OF the Ford Motor Co. and
General Motors and Chrysler Corp
to enforce demands for an industry
wide 80 per cent wage increase.
r. j. Thomas, president of the
UAW-CIO, summed up labor's at
titude toward the Labor Depart
ment revision when he declared
I'VE will wait and see"
A management representative
George Kennedy, president of the
strikebound Kelsey-Hayes Wheel
Co. Of Detroit, said after a confer
ence with Secretary of Labor
Schwellenbach at Washington yes
terday, "he sounds as il he knows
what 1t is all about"
Schwellenbach Given True Facts"
Mr.. Kennedy said he told the
Secretary 'the true facts" about the
strike that has kept 4,500 Kelsey
Hayes workers idle since August %
and resulted in layof1s of many
thousands of workers in other auto
plants which receive brake and
wheel parts from the Kelsey organ
ization.
Il wouldn't be surprised to see the
Secretary in Detroit in a few days.
Mr.. Kennedy added.
Il think the trouble in Detroit can
be settled if the union leaders can
be convinced that they must deal
with management and that man.
agement will be fair but deter
mined" the Kelsey Hayes president
said.
Mr.. Kennedy denied he was seek
ing Government intervention in the
strike, described by observers as a
serious threat to the auto industrys s
reconversion efforts. The union
leaders are trying to scare the Gov
ernment into intervening but don t
think it is necessary" he explained.
Flint Meeting Ends.
Meanwhile, as the UAW-CIO
Executive Board concluded its Flint
(Mich) meeting without getting any
definite results on its back-to-work
orders to the striking Kelsey Hayes
workers. another angle developed in
the strike.
This was an announcement by
Richard T. Frankensteen, UAW vice
president and candidate for
Mayor Of Detroit, that he would
seek settlement of the tieup to-
day.
The UAW Executive Board ex-
pressed concern over reports that
the union had decided to accept
stop-gap or partial increases now
instead of sticking to demands for
fiat 80 per cent stepup.
There Is absolutely nothing to
1t, for we insist on the entire sc
per cent" declared high-ranking
UAW official.
He explained that while the
boards policy is to permit unior
locals to negotiate for smaller in.
creases in their own communities
the wage boosts will have to b,
adjusted when the 80 per cent goa
is attained.
Interest in Shakeup.
Informed quarters said the Ex
ecutive Board devoted some tim
yesterday to consideration of tn
Labor Department shakeup that say
Edgar L. Warren Of Chicago name
as head of the United States Con
ciliation Service.
They evinced interest in report
Mr.. Warren's first job would be t
study the work stoppages that hav
impeded Detroit's reconversion pro
gram.
Il don't know the man and don
know what he can or will do." M,
Thomas declared.
Mr.. Warren indicated he woul
communicate with Labor Depart
ment officials in Detroit today t
determine whether he will go to tn
motor city himself or summon
labor management meeting a
Washington.
I Meanwhile, officials of the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board her
said no requests have been filed for