Evening star., 1945-11-29
Labor Officials Hope
To Find Basis for
Resuming g GIN Talks
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

By JAMES Y. NEWTON.
Federal labor officials were
hopeful today Of bringing about
resumption of negotiations be-
tween General Motors Corp. and
the striking CIO United Auto
Workers. Meanwhile, there were
indications that John L. Lewis
might supply some fireworks in
the tagging National Labor
Management Conference.
Cancellation Director Edgar L..
Warren said he was hopeful" of
finding common ground for re-
opening discussions of the unions
demand for 80 per cent more pay
after four-hour meeting with top
UAW officials, in which Secretary
of Labor Schwellenbach took part.
There still was no word from
GIN on the subject of meeting here
with the union in the presence of
Federal conciliators, although the
corporation announced it had
withdrawn its national advertising
program for the first quarter of
1916 because of the strike situa-
ton.
Reuther Says UAW Can Hold.
UAW Vice President Walter P.
Reuther told news conference
that GIN would like to use this
period to smash the union," but he
added, 1--WE can hold our own. GIN
doesn't have chance in the world
of breaking this strike" 4
I'VE can hold out just as long as
is necessary to win," he continued.
Our cause is just and we know we
can win"
Mr.. Reuther, who is here with
UAW President R. J. Thomas and
other union officials for conferences
on the GIN strike with the Gov
ernment, declared, 1--WE didn't come
down here to ask the Government
to bail us out"
He said the union might request
President Truman to intervene if
the efforts of Secretary SchWellen-
bach to persuade GIN to resume
wage negotiations fail. But for the
moment, he added, they were will
ing to go along with the Labor De-
partment.
IF the economics of this case
show we can't get 80 per cent with
out higher prices, we will scale down
our demands. We don't want one
cent more if it will mean raising
prices. We are not going to sand
bag the American consumer in or
der to get wage increase"
Firms Profits Cited.
Mr.. Reuther said GIN is "the
greatest proft-making machine in
the country" adding that in the
1936-1941 period the corporation
could have paid 80 per cent more in
wages and still have netted IL per
cent return to investors.
Commenting on industry predic-
tions that continuation of the GIN
strike would result in a complete
shutdown of the automobile indus
try, President Thomas said it might
happen, but it would be caused by
management conspiracy"
I'VE are going to do all we can
to help every other motor car manu-
facturer to get out every car he pos
sibly can"
Mr.. Thomas cited instances of
provocation by manufacturers other
than GIN, designed to prove his
charge of an industry conspiracy.
He commented that literally thou
sands of war veterans now employed
by GIN are leading our strike"
Lewis Angered by Procedure.
Meanwhile, the fireworks from Mr..
Lewis were regarded as a possibility,
because he was angered by the vot-
ing procedure adopted for plenary
sessions Of the conference, which, he
said, reduced his United Mine Work
ers to "class B membership" in the
parley.
A rule that seemed certain of
adoption today provided that pro-
posals would carry on the conference
floor if supported by as many as Is
each of the 18 labor and manage
ment delegates. Mr.. Lewis and the
AF'L have fought for a unanimous
vote of both sides for adoption of
proposals. Since the Mine Workers
have only single delegate, agree
ments could be made despite Mr..
Lewis objection.
There was the possibility that Mr..
Lewis might withdraw altogether
from the conference, although it was
held more likely that he would state
that his union would not consider
itself bound by parley agreements.
Schedule Plenary Session.
A plenary session of the con-
ference, the first since the meeting
opened more than three weeks ago.
was scheduled for this afternoon,
Voting procedure was the first mat
ter on the agenda for the session
and it was expected Mr.. Lewis would
make known his position then.
Meanwhile, small hope was held
that the conference would recon-
mend any major machinery for
settling industrial disputes.
The conference will recommend
that clauses be written into all work
contracts providing for arbitration
in final settlement of grievances un-
der existing contracts. There prob
ably will be no provision for arbi-
tration of wage differences in con-
tract renewals.
A semipermanent committee COM
posed of the heads of labor and
management organizations likely
will be created for a continuing
study of machinery to promote in
dustrial harmony.
Secretary Schwellenbach an
nounced, meantime, that President
Truman would not step in with sug-
geStionS designed to save the CON