Evening star., 1945-08-17
Many Seek Workers
Laid Off at Briggs
Factory in Bethesda

Chase Donaldson, president of the
Briggs Clarif1er Co., predicted today
all the workeres laid off by the oil
filter factory would find jobs in this
area on the basis of the number OF
calls he has received from employers
inquiring about the laid-off workers.
The plant president said he had
had several calls from the aiIfines,
one from the Montgomery County
Commissioners, two from important
contractors and others.
One of the Montgomery County
Commissioners, he said, was at the
plant today to find out how many
of the discharged workers would
come to work on road construction
in the county. The contractors, he
said, wanted to know how many
building tradesmen were laid off
and promptly filed orders for them
with the United States Employment
Service.
USES Acts Promptly.
Meanwhile, he said, five USES in
terviewers were at the plant early
this morning with lists of job OPEN
ings requiring the skills possessed
by the laid-off workers. Referral
cards have already been types so
the men can be sent quickly to jobs.
Mr.. Donaldson said he was satais-
fed that by releasing the workers
SO early in the reconversion period
he was giving them a chance to get
the best available jobs.
Approximately $50 workers, plant
ondcial said, were given their pink
slips. A number OF them, Mr.. Dom
aldson said, were veterans because
the plant has made a practice of
hiring veterans. Almost all of them,
however, had been with the plant
less than six months. he said.
The reported demand for the
workers laid off by the Bethesda
plant was echoed in a statement by
Henry E. Treide, war manpower re-
gional director for the region cov-
ering the District, Maryland, Vir-
ginia, West Virginia and North
Carolina.
Cites Peacetime Needs.
Mr.. Treide, after a meeting with
State manpower directors and the
regional Management-Labor Com
mittee, predicted that the pent-up
demand for peacetine products
would avert large-scale unemploy-
ment in this region.
Mr.. Treide estimated that be-
tween 100000 and 250,000 workers
now employed in shipyards, airplane
factories and ordnance plants in
this region would be laid off, but
could be absorbed quickly either in
the same plants when they are con-
verted to peacetime production or in
other Industries in this area.
Can Reconvert Quickly.
The rest Of the more than 1,000,-
900 workers in essential or locally
needed work in this region, he pre-
dicted, would hold their Jobs.
Fortunately, he said, many of
the key war industries in this re-
gion can be turned Immediately to
peacetlme uses. He cited textiles
lumber and forest products, chem
1cals and steel, radio and electronics
and coal. He predicted the tobacco
industry would furnish jobs for tens
OF thousands of workers IN this re-
gion. i
He said it would be necessary to
speed up recruitment of workers and
continue stay-on-the-job campaigns
for the production of lumber and
coal.
Frank L. McNamee, vice chairman
OF the War Manpower Commission,
told the meeting of State directors
that every effort must be made to
have all possible jobs listed at local
employment offices so that workers
can have the widest possible choice
Of jobs.