The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-13
Problems Confronting
 Labor, Management
Unemployment to Be Expected During Postwar, Re- conversion Periods; Drastic LayOffs to Be Avoided

/, reconversion and its related effects such as employment, materials, f.
 nancing, etc, that 1t is almost
 impossible to segregate these fac
 tors and determine which will have adverse and which will have con- structive affect upon the employ ment situation. Decrease in Demands
 While employment needs in many critical areas continue with as many as 50,000 workers still being sought for all New England, according to state agencies, the situation is not encouraging. This is evident when we analyze the agencies statistics and it is revealed that the 50,OOO needed workers represents a 30,0OO reduction in manpower needs of New England industries in the past six months. (At present, it has been estimated, about 100000 are em- ployed in essential industries in New England). The 30,000 decrease in manpower needs, it must be remem- bered, does not signify necessarily, stabilization of New England's production capacities as much as it signifies a slackening of the tempo of production demands upon the area. This slackening can only be viewed as indicative of the end of a lush" era and as such all necessary readjustments should be attempted as soon as possible. AS reported here previously, management, labor and government now are striving toward a preparedness.
 Speedy Reconversion
 One of the most promising factors for the Waterbury area is that, once the full-speed ahead sign is given on materials release the local plants, in general, should effect their re- conversion in spedy manner. This comes about as result of the simi- liarlty of the war materials produced by these companies in relation to their peacetime manufacturing op- eration This certainly applies prin- clpally to the big three of our local plants. AS result it is likely that the full peacetime (normaD con- plement of workers will be retained. Public demands for goods held at high level, in turn should result in many wartime workers also be- ing retained.
 Heavy demands even at this time for more workers in such industries as textiles, leather, logging, lum- oering, rubber, etc, in New Eng land will undoubtedly asshnilate some workers now being laid-off in certain other plants. This will affect our immigrant workers princi- pally. Hope is foreseen of the in- crease wages now in effect in textile industries acting as an inducement to workers, whose homes are in the textile areas, returning to re- sume or seek fresh employment in those industries.
 Control Relaxation
 The War Labor Boards and War ManpoWer Commission have given promises of relaxing materials as wartime needs slacken. Such mate rials are being released in some quantities to less critical areas in the west and elsewhere which will, in turn, it is expected, benefit the New England area. The latter's rise and fall of business activity has long been dependent on industrial activ- lty and purchasing power in other sections of the country. Thus we may benefit by the speed with which in these other areas is effected.
 Production cut-backs continue to come through to this area with the latest affecting the Lux Clock Co.,, and Benrus Co. About 500 or more