The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-09
CHARGE PRESIDENT
WITH USING CLUB
Claim Shutdown Will Not
End Until 30 Per Cent
Raise Granted
Bv ALLEN v. BOWLING

By ALLEN v. BOWLING
United Press Staff Correspondent
DETROIT, Dec. 8.-(UP)
I'm sharp rejection of a
White House appeal for end
of the General Motors shut
down, the United Automobile
Workers union (CIO) tonight
accused President Truman OF
using a "policeman's club to
abrogate labor's ri g h t to
strike.
JAW President R. J. Thomas
sternly warned the President that
he was striking at the heart OF
the program which led to a Demo-
cratic election victory in 1914.
AS the powerful union modified
its 65O,O0O members for a fight
against the administrations labor
legislation proposals, the wage dis
pute paralyizng General Motors
continued with more than $4,000
workers idle in SO GIN plants.
Spurn Offer
A conference of 200 delegates
representing GIN local unions bit
terly spurned the company's re-
peated offer to increase wages
10 IL cents an hour, or approx
mately 10 per cent.
The conference said the strike
would not end until its 30 per cent
wage gain demands had been
fully satisfied"
Then the delegates angrily de-
fled Mr.. Truman's appeal for an
immediate zeturn to work il
display ofpatriotiEm" to maintain
reconversion production at war;
time levels.
A resolution adopted by unani-
NOUS vote of the conference re-
iterated the charge of CIO Presi-
dent Philip Murray that 1.-THE fed
eral administration yields in abb
ject cowardice" to the arrogance
of industry
"We are asked to retreat from
economic Democracy as furthered
under the courageous leadership
of Franklin D. Roosevelt" the
resolution said.
In another resolution, the con.
ference asked $4,000 members Of
the United Electrical, Radio and
Machine Workers Union -(CIO) at
five GIN plants to join the strike
IF the company persists to ne.
gotiate in bad faith"
Walter P. Reuther, JAW vice
president directing the unions
strike strategy, said the actions
will be reported back to local units
Immediately and unanimous app
proval of the conference resolu.
tons is expected by Tuesday night
Keynotes Attitude
Thomas keynoted the unions at
titude in condemning administra-
ton requests for compulsory fact
finding boards and mandatory
3O-day cooling off ban on strikes.
ut would tear from the hands
of labor unions the major weapon
essential to effective collective
bargaining with the anti-board
managerial groups Of billion dollar
corporations, he asserted. with
out the right to strike at a time
chosen by the union you just do
not bargain collectively with the
management that runs the automo-
bile industry"
Thomas virtually charged the
president with a strike-breaking
movement when he cited the diff
ference between the railway labor
act signed by President Coolidge
and the new administration pro-
posal.
president Coolidge broke no
strike when he signed the railway
labor act in 1896" he said. There
was no major railroad strike at
that time. The proposal of Presi-
dent Truman is completely and
utterly different"
The labor chieftain emphasized
that under the railway act there
is no compulsory cooling off period
during which strike is banned.
Also, he said. the act provides no
penalties on labor unions.
Under provisions Of the admin
istration's proposal, however,
strikes called during the 30-day
cooling-off interim would be illegal
and strikers involved would be
subject to penalties of other fed.
eral labor acts, Thomas said.
Attacks Bill
There is no question that en-.
actment of the bill will result in
the breakdown Of proper collec.
tive bargaining" he declared. THE
corporations will refuse to bar.
gain honestly, relying on the re.
strictive effects of President Tru.
Continued on Page Three; Col. y