Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-12-14
Report of National Citizens Committee
On General Motors JAW CIO DisDute

Because of the Importance to
the whole country of the issues
involved in the current work
stoppageS in the General Motors
Corporation, we were glad TO ac-
cept the invitation of the UAW-
CIO to examine the transcript of
its negotiations and to inquire
into the problems raised there
by. We have also sought and re-
ceived from the Corporation ma
terials setting forth more fully
its position. c. E. Wilson, presi-
dent of the General Motors Cor
poration, H. w. Anderson, vice
president, r. j. Thomas, presi-
dent of the UAW-CIO and Wal
ter P. Reuther, vice president,
were invited in person to pre-
sent further information to the
Committee. Mr.. Thomas office
informed the Committee that he
was out of the city. Mr.. Reuther
appeared and answered ques-
tions put to him by the Com
mittee. The Corporation did not
respond to the invitation.
The Committee has read the
739-page record of the negotia-
tionS between the Corporation
and the Union and has sought
all available information on
both sides of the controversy.
REVIEW is COMPLEX
Our review of this very COM
plex and strategic industrial
controversy leads us to believe
that the public should be more
fully appriSed of certain facts.
The members of this Committee
have reached number of con-
clusions which they hope may
contribute to the public under
standing of the controversy and
to the measures necessary for
affecting a just and prompt set
tlement of the issues. We have
neither been asked, nor have we
sought, to serve as conciliators
or otherwise to uSurp the func-
tions of the active government
agencies in this matter. But in
view of the apparent Stalemate
in negotiations and mounting
loses from the continuing stop
pages, we deem it proper to ex-
press our opinion on the issues.
AS background for considera-
ton of the issues, we here pre-
sent summary of the conten-
tionS of each side of the con-
troverSy.
The Contentious of the Parties:
For the Union:
The controversy arose over
the Unions proposal of a 800
wage increase under the terms
of its existing contract with the
Corporation. Part of this in
crease, it urged, should be al
located to an equalization fund
to make wage rates more uni
form throughout the Corpora
ton, part to social security
fund and the balance to a
blanket increase in all hourly |
wage rates. The Union asked
this wage increase to make up
for reductions in take-home pay
resulting from shorter hours
and downgrading of workers,
and to advance the general pur-
power necessary to sup
port full employment.
A cardinal point in the Un-
ions proposal was that this in
crease be granted without any
increase in the prices of General
Motors products. 1t submitted
much data in support of its con-
tention that the Corporation can
afford such raises, while keeping
present prices, and still earn
high profits. Increased volume
Of output, tax reductions, new
equipment and higher labor pro-
ductivity were analyzed in de-
.ail. Union estimates suggested
that price reductions might even
De possible if volume is as high
as recently predicted by the
President of General Motors.
UNION WOULD RECONSIDER
The Union constantly reiterat-
I'd its willingness to reconsider
is 800 proposal if the "arith- |
netic" of the Corporations fl S
lancial condition showed such a I
wage boost would neceSsitate S
'rice relief or undue profit cuts. +
t refused to eliminate from the I
the consideration of q
he effects of its wage demands t
N prices and profits and re- t
IueSted Corporation data to
how what these effects would g
'e. 1t elaborated an argument i
or stable prices and rising pur- n
haSing power as necessary to o
he health of the highly produc- g
i've American economy. h
In the final stages, the Union |;
ffered to refer the isues to ar a
itration for a binding decision, Il
fter rejecting the Corporations |,
ounter proposals (noted here
fter) on the ground: D that D
ne first proposal (that the work Il
,eek be increased from 40 to fl
5 hours) would contravene fed "
raj legal standards for hours of
,ork and would increase unem- T
loyment, and (2) that the sec Ct