Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-09-27
4 Might Be
|WrOng--But
p. G. STROMBERG

~ wei M Emo anu TdulOS
this week are filled with re-
ports of strikes strikes and
more strikes. So much has been
written and said about strikes
since the beginning of the war
that the public is fed up. And
yet the strike
Strikes has a place in
Strikes And our democracy
More Strikes but it should be
resort ed to
only when pay, working condi-
tons or other sources of griev-
ance cannot be resolved by nor
nal methods of arbitration. The
American people are sick and
tired Of strikes. They are anx-
ious to enjoy conditions of peace
for which their boys have sac
rificed SO much. They want to
see economic conditions reach a
normal level as soon as possible
30 that we might be able to buy
the goods and services which go
to make up normal living.
There is, however, plenty of
reason why labor desires adjust
rnents in pay. For several years
the stake home pay" has been
inAde up of the regular pay for
forty hours plus time and one
half for all hours over forty.
Now that the war plants are
closing down and the worker is
again on a regular forty hour
schedule the "take home pay" is
reduced, in some cases, by from
twenty to almost fifty per cent.
It brings to the forefront a prob
lem which must be met sooner
or later. The workingmah
represents family and the
family represents our society,
The wo T + In CANA n there-
3oresis a vital part of our demo-
cratic structure. His ability to
provide all of the essentials Of
respectable living plus some Of
life's Injuries makes for happi-
ness and contentment of his
family. And the happiness and
contentment of his family make
up the greatest
Take Home asset of our ma
Paw tional well-being.
Reduced To deny his
claim to an in
crease in pay for the forty-hour
period is to invite discomfort
among the large class of Amer
leans dependent upon labor's
income.
On the other hand President
Truman is manifsstly unfair to
the large employer when he says
that the entire demands of labor
for pay increases can be met
without causing an increase in
the selling price Of merchandise.
That cannot be. 1t is probable,
however, that with increased
efficieney.of production and with
unprecedented orders which
create great volume a part of
the thirty per cent increase
asked can be met without in
ereasing the sale price. And
that should be recognized by i'm
dustrial leaders just as it should
be accepted by labor.
So far as the public is con-
cerned it is high time for both
employer and employee to get
together on a peaceful basis and
with real understanding. The
nation has strained its every
energy to insure for US the right
to live as we desire. If we are
to be faced with constant bicker-
ing and strife at home the boys
will wonder whether they had
really won the war to live peace
fully and freely.
1t was anticipated that there
would be trouble in the period
of reconversion.
Truman When the in
Unfair To sured prices of
Employers government con-
tracts could no
longer be counted upon by indus
try and when the overtime pay
for labor could no longer be
flowing without question the
issue would naturally be sharp
ly drawn and the interests Of
the two groups would clash. Per-
haps in this phase of our return
to normal life President Tru-