The sub., 1945-01-20
Jobs in Nations Shipyards About At Level of 1914
Upward Revision of Construc- tion Plans Disclosed By
 Two Government Agencies
MORE LABOR
 IS REQUIRED
A. F. of L. Unions Have Joined Drive to Recruit Skilled Mechanics

Employment in the nations ship yards and navy yards in 1045 will remain at about the same high level as in 1944-that'S the outlook re- ported this week by the Maritime Commission and the Navy Depart ment.
 Deep cuts had been anticipated in shipbuilding for 1945, with the lay- off of many thousands of workers, but changes in strategy and length ening of the war may have caused an upward revision in ship con- struction plans, the agencies dis closed.
 Officials of A. F. of L. unions, which represent a million and a half workers in all branches of the shipbuilding industry, declared likewise that information received by them points to high level em- ployment through most If not all of 1945.
 More Cargo Ships
 One of the straws in the wind that marked the close of the old year was the issuance by Assistant President" James F. Byrnes of an order authorizing construction un- der Maritime Commission supervi- sion of 186 new cargo ships-to be completed in the last half of 1945.
 These will include 20 tankers, 102 speedy "C'' and Victory type of cargo ships, 24 Liberty ships and 40 others. Officials said that's only a starter and that further programs beyond present schedules are likely to be authorized.
 Tabulating what Is presently planned for 1945 in merchant ships, officials came up with an estimate of 13, 3,O0O, ,O00 tons. That's more than 5000, 900 tons under the output last year, but government spokesman said that even at the lower rate, total jobs in shipbuilding will still remain at approximately present levels.
 More Labor Required
 The reason for this, they said, Is that most of the new program will be concentrated on speedier vessels and special types of ships for the military forces-all requiring more man-hours of labor than the simpler Liberty ships which constituted much of the 1944 program and which were put out almost on a mass production basis.
 An even more impressive outlook for employment in yards producing and repairing ships for Americas s fighting fleet was revealed by the navy.
 Greater Program Planned
 For 1945, the program planned is to be limited only by the caypacity of the yards and of the manufactur- ing plants which produce parts and supplies for the ships. This output will help deliver the expected knockout blow against Japan.
 For 1945 the navy looks to An- erican industry and American workmen to continue their magni- ficient support of our combatant and amphibious forces with a steady stream of supplieS-supplies needed ever more urgently as we move steadily further across the Pacific" |" the navy report declared.
 More ships for the fleet would have been constructed last year had capacity been greater and manpow- CT more available, the navy said. Repairs of many battle-scarred ships and of other vessels which needed overhauling have had to be held up because of labor and supply shortages, the navy declared. It es- timated that 132,O0O more workers will be needed by December, 1945, on repair work independently in West Coast yards.
 Unions Recruit Workers
 As matter of fact, A. F. of L. unions, at the request of the navy, have for some time been active in