Evening star., 1945-07-03
Rubber Strike Chiefs
Ask Senate Probe Of
Situation atAkron
Ry the Associated Press.

ny INC hcsOSlobch ElcoS.
AKRON, Ohio, july 3.--Leaders OF
some $4,000 striking CIO-United
Rubber Workers at two of the Ma
tion's largest tire plants today re-
quested an immediate Senate COM
mittee investigation of the Akron
labor situation.
Asserting mot single tire Is
being produced in Akron" presidents
of locals at the Firestone Tire &,
Rubber Co. and the Goodyear Tire
e. Rubber Co. appealed to the Sem
ate War Investigating Committee,
Isaac H. Watson, president of the
Firestone local, and C. " Wheeler,
Goodyear union chief, asked the
committee Ito Immediately start
consideration of the merit of dis
puted points between the workers
and these companies"
Hit Working Conditions.
These issues, they declared, were
responsible for Oppressive working
conditions"
In Washington the War Labor
Board referred the Goodyear
strike to Economic Sterilization
Director Davis as the first step
toward Government seizure.
Clearance of necessary papers
sometimes requires days before
the President can issue the
seizure order. -r.
Actually Mr.. Davis has been in
the picture for the past week.
The board informed him OF the
situation a week ago, and the
economic StabiliZation director
asked Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey
10 withdraw draft deferments
among the strikers.
Besides the two Strike-bound
companies. three other Akron rub
Der manufacturers, employing "a
600 men, were closed for overhaul
ing and repairing of equipment.
Only one of the rubberScapitals six
producers-the smallest - remained
in operations.
Vacations Suspended.
The Goodyear strike continued
into its 18th day with no sign OF
settlement, although the WLB in
an unprecedented move suspended
shift premiums and vacation right
of the 16.700 idle workers. The walk
out started after a breakdown of
company union negotiations on 80
grievances
The WLB informed Mr. Wheeler
the action was taken because of
continued refusal of the strikers
to end the stoppage of vital war
viii Stay Ont.
In reply, the Goodyear local pres
ident wired: Wen stay out until
we get them back"
Members of Summit County's IA
draft boards met with State selec-
tive service officers for discussion of
orders to put Goodyear employees,
formerly deferred because OF their
occupation, in the Army.
One draft board member re-
ported "a lot of difference and a
lot of feeling" at the meeting.
Some of us, >" he declared, take
the attitude, first, that the Army is
not a penal institution and
second, that this affair has been
dumped in our laps by another
Government agency"
Gov. Frank ]. Lausche Saturday
ordered immediate induction OF the
strikers after Mr.. Davis announced
cancellation of their occupational
oeferments.
Acts in Firestone Case.
The National WLB also ordered
the $500 Firestone employees back
to work shortly after receiving the
case from the regional board I'M
Cleveland. The strike began Sum-
day after failure of company-union
on a new contract to-
replace one which expired recently
Firestone Office workers were per-
nitted to pass picket lines, but the
Goodyear strikers turned back all
top executives. Government
doctors and nurses at the
company's five units. The move
barred some $500 clerical employees
who previously had been permitted
IN noSS .-