Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-09-16
Union Sets Up Fund
Of $4,000, 900 to Aid
In Pay Roise Fight
BY the Associated p tess.

DETROIT, Sept. IS The
United Automobile Workers
(CIO) threatened today to strike
all General Motors factories to
support it's demands for a 80
per cent wage increase.
To spark an industry wide drive
for the increase, the union set aside
s4,000,000 General Motors was Sc
lected for the start of the campaign
with the others of the automobile
industry's Big Three"-Chrysler
and Ford-to follow.
The turbulent reconversion scene
in the vast automotive industry
shaped up thus;
1.-The JAW announced it would
petition for the strike vote in 1875
General Motors plants if the cor
poration does not meet the wage
demand. Such a walkout would af-
feet more than 100000 workers.
2-The union said Chrysler work.
ers would ballot next Sunday to
decide whether they also would pc
tition for a strike vote later. This
would involve from 10000 to 100000
employees
218,000 Idle in Nation.
3-The Ford Motor Co.'S big plants
were almost completely closed as
the corporation declared it could
not continue work because of strikes
against suppliers of parts. About
so 900 workers were affected direct
ly and $4,000 indirectly.
On Kansas City, President Tru-
man told news conference he will
look into the Ford labor troubles
when he gets back to Washington.
He said he didn't know the par
ticulars of the Ford shutdown and
added he wouldn't worry about it
until he returns to the White
House,.
The Ford stoppage totaled to 2l8,-
900 the number of workers idle
across the nation in labor disputes
JAW strike votes would be con-
Quoted by the National Labor Rela-
lions Board on petition of the union
The Smith Connally Act fixing this
procedure provides for 30-day
cooling off" period between receipt
of a petition and the actual voting.
General Motors employs 5000
persons and is the largest producer
in the auto industry.
Use Competitive Position.
The JAW, which has contracts
with all major producers of the
industry, has outlined a plan to
strike each company separately in
an effort to enforce the 80 per cent
wage demand. Thus the union would
exploit the competitive position of
i. one company at time.
/ Plans of the UAW-CIO to throw
100000 into the campaign were
disclosed by George F. Adde's, sec
! rotary treasurer.
| I'VE are ready to shoot the works
/ to obtain our economic objectives,
Mr. Adde's said. I'VE are prepared
! to use our whole reserve funds, plus
/ that of the local unions, to win our
/ battle for higher wages
The union said it was anxious to
bargain with General Motors but
that so far the corporation has made
no counter offer to the wage boost
demand.
I'VE sincerely hope that no strike
will be necessary" said Walter P
Reuther, a UAW-CIO vice president
and chairman of the unions General
Motors division.
General Motors Silent.
/ MI. Reuther told a press confer
ence he hoped there was enough
intelligence and common honesty
for negotiations of the wage in
crease instead of a strike.
During this war" Mr.. Reuthel
said, Government funds financed
the creation of an industrial giant
which can produce untold billions OF
wealth.
unless We MAINTAIN take-homt
! pay, and thus bolster our fast.
shrinking ability to absorb the good.
which we have the capacity to pro.
duce, We shall be forced into an eco.
nomic crash that will make 1929 3:
look like minor recession
There was no immediate comment
from General Motors offices.
The stoppage at the Ford plant.
was followed today with an an.
nouncement that the motoring pub.
lie will be unable to buy new Ford!
for at least another year.
! Henry Ford II, executive vic.
president of the company, said tn,
(See STRIKES, Page "A.