Evening star., 1945-12-04
Auto Union Opposition
Indicates Rough Road
For Truman Proposal
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press. a-G
DETROIT, Dec. 4.-Opposition
by the CIO United Auto Workers
top leadership indicated a rough
road ahead today for President
Truman's proposal for a halt to
the General Motors strike.
Union officials emphasized that q
final decision on the Presidents plea
for immediate resumption Of work
would be left to the 5000 strikers,
but they left no doubt as to their
own personal sentiments.
Defending the GIN strike as
sound, legal and moral" r. j.
Thomas, UAW-CIO president, said
he was mot sold" on Mr.. Truman's
proposal to end the stoppage and
abide by the recommendations of a
Government fact-finding board.
Before the board is appointed, Mr.
Thomas said, the President should
know that General Motors has not
co-operated on collective bargaining
and has rejecsed conciliation, media
ton and arbitration. Such board,
he added, could easily be packed
In either direction
Want Something More Tangible:
Walter P. Reuther, UAW-CIO vice
president, who has led the fight for
a 80 per cent wage increase for GIN
workers, and George F. Adde's, Sec
retary-treasurer, both commented
they would want something more
tangible" in return for ending the
strike.
The union promptly summoned
the more than 200 delegates to its
national GIN conference - with
whose approval the strike was called
two weeks ago-to meet in Detroit
Saturday. The Presidents proposal
will be laid before them without
recommendation from international
officers, Mr.. Thomas said.
The councils report will be car
ried back to GIN locals throughout
the country for membership votes
which will be binding, the UAW
president said. This balloting, he
predicted, would be completed by
about next Tuesday.
Mr.. Reuther explained that under
the union constitution the interna-
tlonal executive board is empowered
to call off a strike without consult
ing the locals. This has never been
done, he said, adding I'VE don't in
tend to do it in the General Motors
strike"
No Statutory Powers.
President Truman admitted the
fact-finding board he is appointing
will not have the statutory powers
which hope the Congress will soon
authorize" but he said he was "sure
the American people will expect the
employer and the employees to CO.
operate with the board as fully as if
appropriate legislation had already
been passed.
This proposed legislative program
was equally as distasteful to the
labor leaders. Mr.. Thomas asked
the President for more details of
the program, but said he was won
dering what is happening to de-
mocracy.'
THE right to strike" he added,
sis a democratic principle"
Mr.. Thomas and Mr.. Reuther con-
ferred at Pittsburgh today with
Philip Murray, president of the CIO
and also of the United Steel Work.
ers. The steel workers union is
second only to the UAW in numer-
ical strength among the CIO affili-
ates.
The more than 100000 steel work.
ers were asked by Mr.. Truman to
withhold their threatened strike
until another fact-finding board has
made its report.
At New York c. E. Wilson, GIN
president, declined further comment
on the Chief Executives proposal
pending further study.
The fact-f1nders would be en-
noWered to subpoena company or
union records as well as individuals.
Throughout several months of ne
gotiations General Motors refused to
open its books to the union, con-
tending its profits had no relation
to wage rates.
Other Developments.
These were the other developments
on the automotive labor front:
l. Mr.. Thomas said letter ac-
cepting Mr.. wilson's proposal for re-
opening some of the GIN plants to
produce parts and accessories for
dependent and rival manufacturers
was written by the unions publicity
staff and not by him.
Ordering no more letters sent out
over his signature without his knowl-
edge, he said he would not have
agreed to the offer, at least until a
complete study of the parts situation
had been made.
2. The Justice Department prom
ised thorough investigation of the
unions charges that GIN holds a
monopoly position" by it's control OF
the engine fuel pump supply.
3. UAW-CIO leaders said they
would answer the Ford Motor Co. s
demand for company security" at
the resumption of wage negotiations
Monday. Ford is seeking a guaran-
tee of a SIS day from the union for
each UAW member engaging in an
unauthorized strike.
.CIO Leaders Discuss
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