The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-11-19
CIO Officers to Map Strategy Against GM

Detroit. Nov. l9 = CUP) = Rep resentatives of 350,0O0 CIO auto workers met today to consider swift, final step toward a system wide strike against General Mo- tors.
 More than POO delegates from l35 GM locals affiliated with the power full United Auto Workers union (CIO) will convene at p. m. (EST). They will hear report on stale mated wage negotiations with the motor company, then decide on fu- ture action.
 The conference recommendation was expected to take one of two forms.
 1. Flat rejection of all General Motors offers in settlement of the JAWS 30 per cent pay boost de- mand, and demand for a strike.
 2. Rejection of management of- fers and delegation of full powers for future action to a six-member strike strategy committee already appointed by the JAWS interna- tional executive board.
 To Recommend Strike
 Twelve conference delegates in- terviewed by the United Press be- fore the meeting agreed unani- mously that strike recommendation would come out of the two-day ses- sion.
 In theory, the conference could order its officers to bo back into negotiations with General Motors and propose compromises of the 30 per cent demand But it would be an unprecedented action and is con- sidered unlikely inasmuch as all local unions already have voted overwhelming for strike to en- force pay gains.
 Tn futile negotiations leading to todays conference, the union re- jected General Motors best offer of a blanket 10 per cent wage in- crease. The union has at no time modified its original 30 per cent demand.
 Pattern for Strike Set
 OPA automobile price ceiling an- nounced at Washington were ex- pected to have little effect on the meeting. The JAW has insisted all along that car prices be held at 1942 levels, declaring that 1t would refuse wage increases fl they were to be used for boosting car prices.
 JAW President R. J. Thomas per sonally set the pattern for strike sentiment in an editorial appearing today in the The Auto Workers. officially magroffiical magazine of the union.
 He said an anti-union compact among the industrys big three G. Chrylsler and Ford-waS fore ing a terribly and costly strike upon us" Thomas charged that a man agerial clique" within the GM or ganizatio nwas fostering a policy at odds with the best interests of stockholders and the consum- ing public
 New Procedure
 Thomas heads the strike strategy committee. whose other members are Walter P. Reuther, vice-presi- dent in charge of GM unions; Rich ard T. Frankensteen, vice-president and aircraft department director; George Adde's, secretary-treasurer; {; Richard Leonard, Ford department director, and Norman Matthews, Chrysler department director.
 Creation of this committee at Reuthers request is new pro- cedure in the union and comes under no specific provision of the JAW constitution. Reuther said he was uncertain what course would be taken in the members of the committee differed on what course to follow.
 Reuther. in a bitter rejection of General Motors offer to boost wages 10 percent. said the negio- tiations had ended. He will report to the conference this afternoon. He announced he would request summary rejection of all GM pro posals.
 Delegates will convene again at 10 a. m. Tuesday presumably to work out the official recommenda- as expected, all legal steps will have ton. If the conference recommends been completed for the strike call