Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-07-13
Why Strikes

Headlines in newspapers throughout
the United States tell of the large number
of unauthorized strikes and magnify them
for purposes which are not too difficult to
guess. Behind these work stOppages, most
of which are unauthorized, lie reasons
which newspapers do not discuss.
In brief, the growth of spontaneous
strikes is due to several factors: /. Wage
cuts due to cutbacks and lessened hours of
employment. 2. Provocations deliberately
made by management g. Ineffective and
tardy action by the War Labor Board.
Failure of OPA to hold the line on
ices.
1t must be obvious to anyone who
does not clip coupons that the wage and
salary earners are seriously hit by lessen
ed hours The high wages about which we
read have made it possible in most in
stances for the workers to meet the cost
of living which has increased As per cent
since the Little Steel Formula became the
guide for the War Labor Board AS over
time premium pay is cut, the workers are
finding it difficult, if not impossible, to
meet the costs which remain the same as
before, if they have not actually increased.
Provoking the workers by unjust fir
ings and petty sniping is on the increase
among reactionary arrangements. One of
the best illustrations of this is seen right
here in Toledo where the Spicer Co., fired
one of its office girls for allegedly being
late for work. The strange thing in the
Spicer case and similar firings is that it
is always the best union members who are
Disseminated against. 1t would be strange
indeed if the workers did not resent such
treatment and retaliate as best they can
against the industrial Bourbons.
Lack of realistic approach to the wage
and other problems of the workers, plus
"too late" on the part of the War Labor
Board is an old story since the very begin
ming of this governmental ally of manage
ment Tardy action plus rejection of the
claims of the workers have been the out
standing performances of this agency. The
whole setup of the Board has been con-
trary to everything that justice demands,
and its continued failure, even in the face
of the changing conditions, make it just
another irritation for those who must ap-
peal to it for settlement of even the small
est problems.
Gross failure of OPA to hold up its
end of the bargain by preventing price in
creases; failure to enforce the law on
large enough scale to give relief to the
consumers and workers is magnified now
that wages are actually decreasing and un-
employment increasing While OPA has
not been total failure and has done
some good work, it too has contributed its
bit to the general feeling of dissatisfaction
and must assume its share of the respon-
sibility for the labor unrest which is be-
coming increasingly more apparent.
Add all these points together and
consider the uncertainty of the workers
future employment in the face of the
failure of the government to come for
ward with any plan for reconversion or
full employment and it is not too difficult
to understand why spontaneous strikes
occur and will continue to occur until
something effective is done to assure the
workers that they will have gainful en-
ployment at living wage and will guar
antee them justice and equity in their
dealings with management.
Unless and until some measures have
been instituted to bring about greater
measure of confidence ON the part of those
who must work for their livings, there
will continue to be strikes, which, whether
they are sanctioned or not will represent
the revolt of the workers against the i'm
science of management and the indif-
ferent and Intellectual efforts of govern
ment.
Despite the strikes, the war work
does not suffer, fact which can best be
shown by continued governmental cut
backs and contract cancellations.