Evening star., 1945-12-03
Westinghouse Head
Offers 51-Day Week,
In Reply 10 Union
~ the Associated Press.

George H. Bucher, president of the
Westinghouse Electric Corp, today
announced in Pittsburgh q proposal
to increase the corporations work
week wherever practicable from five
TO five and one-half days, with time
and half for all hours worked In
excess Of 10.
Mr.. Bucfer said these and other
company proposals have been made
to, the United Electrical, Radio and
Machine Workers of America in re-
ply to the unions demand for a
wage increase of 81 day. The
union Is scheduled to take a strike
vote December 13.
"A company cannot pay out more
wages, salaries and operating costs
than it takes in," Mr.. Bucher as
serted. "The union has not proposed
to give more work for what it now
asks"
Charge Plants Abandoned.
Today's development came after
the union said yesterday that West
tnghouse and the General Electric
Co. are abandoning" Is Govern
ment-built war plants costing $132.-
100000 and erecting new factories in
small-town, low-wage areas.
James j. Matles, director Of Or
eanization for the union, said in a
statement that the plants being
abandoned, located in industrial
areas where the union Is strong,
could have been converted speedily
and have produced tens of thou
sands of radios, refrigerators, wash
Ing machines and other electrical
appliances for ar appliance hungry
public
Mr.. Matles asserted the products
Of the Is plants, including small mo-
tors, generators and wiring devices,
are needed by other industries whose
reconversion will be hampered.
Union Statement Denied.
In Pittsburgh, spokesman for
Westinghouse said, There is no
abandoning" and he added:
THE plants are not our plants
The Navy has owned them right
along, and we have simply been op-
Grating them for the Navy. There
is no provision made for us to buy
the plants. The Navy is now 60
ing to exercise its right to assume
management.
"As to erecting new factories I
don't know of single construction
job going on now."
An official of General Electric
said In statement issued in New
York City that factories built by the
Government and the firm during
the war were constructed to meet
conditions prevailing then and were
not planned for conditions that
might prevail in peacetime."
We are planning our peacetime
manufacturing to meet peacetime
conditions such as accessibility to
raw materials, proximity to markets,
transportation and COST" the Of
fcial said. Also we have to seek
areas where help is available"
Congress Probe Sought.
The union said it is seeking
congressional investigation of the
matter, along with it's contention
that the radio and electrical manu-
featuring industry is engaged in "a
deliberate hold-back" of electrical
appliances from the Christmas
trade.
The unions strike vote on De-
cember 13 will include General Elec-
trio and the Electrical Division of
General Motors. as we'll as West
inghouse. About 100000 workers
will be eligible to vote.
A union spokesman said approxi-
mately 5000 workers are being laid
of in each of the Is war plants, to-
falling 5000 union members who
were forced to take other jobs in
their communities or scatter for
employment elsewhere.
No estimate of the number Of
workers who would be employed at
the 80 projected new plants could be
obtained. the union said.