Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-22
Break Awaited
AsFact-Finders
AvertShowdown
GIN Panel Recesses
To Dec. 70 Without
Action on Profit Issue
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

FULLY awaited break" in two
of the Nations major labor dis
putes-General Motors Corp. and
oil-after its ct-finding boards
had carefully sidestepped a.
showdown on employer accept
ance of President Humans
ruling that ability to pay would
be considered in settling labor's
demand for higher wages.
There was little evidence to sup
port the hope that the month-old
GIN strike will be settled in the i'm
mediate future. Chairman Lloyd X.
Garrison of the fact-finding board
recessed hearings until December %
without allowing GIN to comment on
the panels decision to inquire into
company profits and prices in judg-
ing validity of the CIO United Auto
Workers demand for 80 per cent
higher pay.
In the oil dispute, there seemed
good chance that a settlement would
be reached by at least some of the
major companies involved. DR..
Frank p. Graham recessed hearings
of his fact-finding group until Janu-
airy 7 upon being advised that sew
eral oil companies we're negotiating
with the CLIO Oil Workers on a
plant-by-plant basis. Those work
ers too had demanded 80 per cent
increases, but settlement talks pre-
sumably were going forward on basis
of the Is per cent settlement made
a week ago by the Sinclair Refining
Co.
GE Wage Increase Rejected.
Elsewhere in labor, a 10 per cent
wage increase offered by the General
Electric Co. was quickly rejected by
the CLIO United Electrical Workers
who recently voted to strike in sup
port Of wage increase demands of
50 day. The union termed the GE
offer grossly inadequate to the
needs Of GE employees, whose earn
ings have been cut as much as so
per cent"
The company employs about SO 1000
JEW members. There are 5000 adj
ditional employees, members of other
unions, included in the wage offer.
The JEW voted to last week to
strike after January l in plants Of
GE. Westinghouse and General
Motors.
In Detroit, the Packard Motor Co.
advised it's foremen that 1t is pre-
pared to appeal to the Supreme
Court any lesser courts ruling that
the company must bargain collec-
lively with them. Packard super
visory employees are members OF the
Foremen's Association.
George T. Christopher, company
president, wrote the foremen's union
that I'VE understand that the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board will
shortly file a petition with the Cir
cult Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
NLRB twice has ruled that Packard
must recognize the union, and the
company has ignored the orders.
Garrison Recesses Hearing.
Chairman Garrison read to GIN
and the JAW a statement of his
boards policy and quickly recessed
the hearing, saying that he would
mot call on the parties for COM
ment at this time" This followed
private sessions between the board
and the disputants called in individ-
ually. Mr.. Garrison lodged ques-
ton relating to GINS position on the
decision to consider ability to pay
Company officials refused comment
although a spokesman said their
position was unchanged since the
threat to bolt the hearings If profits
were to be looked into.
Following adjournment of the
hearings, JAW Vice President Wal
ter P. Reuther made the following
statement:
THE union will continue to CO.
operate with the fact finding board
so that this dispute may be settled
on the basis of the arithmetic. Gen.
eral Motors Corp. apparently is still
debating the question of yielding Its
sovereignty. I sincerely hope the
corporation decides to recognize the
sovereignty of the United States
Government and decide to cooper.
| (See I,AROP po0o H-oY