The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-05
Lobor Rejects Peace Move
CcOntInued from Page D

Reuther returned to Detroit where he said the Presidents proposal for ending the industrial strike would be referred to the JAW rank-and- file at a meeting Saturday.
 To Vote on Proposal
 The United Steel Workers. Mur- rays own union which recently vot- ed five to one to strike for @ a day wage increase, will act on Presi- dent Truman's proposal at it's wage policy committee meeting Dec. 10. The meeting was originally called to consider strike action.
 George Meany, secretary -treas- urer of the American Federation of Labor, joined the CLOS at- tack on the Truman proposal in a speech at Harrisburg, Pa, where he said the AFL would not &C., cept legislation that "compels workers to work even for 8 min ute against their will.'C
 President Truman'S proposal would make 1t illegal for union to strike during a 30-day cooling of period while government-appointed llltCCLA6dICO A1oPOOCos
 Murray's attack was the most bit- ter criticism of the Democratic Ad- ministration by CIO leader since John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers split with the Roosevelt Administration in 1948 and subse- quently withdrew from the CIO.
 Serious Crisis Exists
 "A very serious crisis faces our nation today" Murray said. Tt would be unwise and hypocritlcal not to face this fact"
 Murray charged that adoption of MT. Truman's proposal would re- suit in "elgislation that can have but one single purpose-the weak ening of labor unions-the curtail- ment of the right of free men to refrain from working when they choose to do so."
 '"The design of the specific legls- lative proposal is to weaken and ultimately destroy labor union or ganizations," Murray said. Tt can be but the first step for even more savage legislative repression"
 Murray said the CIO opposed the basic labor policy of the Adminis- tration which marks very serious departure from the policies which the people of this country have re- repeatedly approved under the leadership of President Roosevelt. "
 Says Management Arrogant
 "The American people have not participated in the recent fer ocious struggle against Fascism in order to have democracy weakened and threatened through proposals leading to industrial serfdom," Mur- ray said.
 Murray said labor had sought te raise wages through collective bar gaining because of the cuts in take home pay after V-J, but were stalled by arrangements "eter- mined arrogance. They would moi bargain. They ignored the facts They simply said no to each sug. gestion offered by the unions"
 He Said both the United States Steel Corporation and General Mo- tors perfunctorily turned down re- quests for wage increases ane made no effort to use collective ear gaining. He charged management with a production sitdown since profits for the remainder of thi year will be absorbed by the excess profits tax.
 Through tax laws which tn Federal Administration supports, Murray said, "any corporation i guaranteed by you as taxpayers fo two years, through tax refund from the United States Treasury against any loss and minimum O. net profits which will be in excess o1 their peacetime average"
 Wide Gap in Income
 Murray said that this year indus try can only keep 141A cents or every dollar of profit but next yea1 will be permitted to keep 62 cents out of every profit dollar.
 For that reason, he said, indus try has begun sitdown strike or production. You are waiting fol your goods-and as a taxpayer you are financing industry'S holdup, Murray said.