Evening star., 1946-01-06
Labor
Continued From First Page.

nand for q 80 per cent wage in
crease would be completed and made
public this week.
Strike in 47th Day.
The strike against GIN automo-
tive plants, involving about 0,00t
workers, entered its Al day, as re-
ports from Detroit stated that the
UAW looked hopefully to the Gar
rison board report for a means OF
settlement. The strike set by the
electrical workers for Januray Il
would involve the electrical divi-
sions of GIN. A UAW spokesman
said the union expects the fact-find-
Ing board to suggest a wage increase
comparable to our demands" add
ing that in any event the recon-
mendation will provide a basis fol-
further bargaining"
The electrical industry walkout
would affect 100000 GE workers
$4,000 in Westinghouse, and 25,o0c
at GIN, union leaders said. The
union, seeking a fiat increase of 81
q day from three companies, earlier
rejected an offer of 1871 cents pei
hour increase from General Motors
New President Fitzgerald said fix
ing the date for strike followed the
strategy conference Friday with
Philip Murray, CIO president, and
top officials Of the UAW and Steel
Workers.
He said GEs last-minute attempt
ut settlement was miserable pack
age thrown to GE employees to take
1t or leave it." He added the offer
fails to meet the urgent economic
needs OF their employees"
Seeks to Ward on Strike.
GE President Wilson said he made
the new offer sin an effort to pre-
vent threatened strike in the COM
pany's plants and to halt the rising
production paralysis in the critical
conversion period" He said the
offer would mean 5000, 900 a year
more pay to GE workers.
Although Mr.. Wilson was not
available for comment after the
union strike action, a spokesman
for Westinghouse said that while
the company was still ready to
negotiate with the union, they also
were prepared for q "long strike.
w. G. Marshall, Westinghouse
vice president, said the company
faces the strike with "the greatest
regret" but with the conviction 1t
did everything in its power" to
avoid the stoppage. He added the
company's position was based on
three points: 1t pays better wages
than the industry generally; a pro-
posal for a SIX day week that would
net workers Is per cent more pay
for 10 per cent increase in hours,
and the company offered to meet
each month with the union for six
months to determine whether a
pay increase can be granted"
UEW officials have held that
negotiations with GIN are still
"alive," although wage talks had
broken down with the other two
companies. GIN has made the union
the best offer.
ASACA AsCPOIb Wy r ECUEukTy lVs
Mr.. Truman's instructions to the
panel he appointed to investigate the
Steel Workers demand for a $2-a-
day pay raise asked that a report
be completed by February 10. In
view Of the boards decision not to
hold procedural meeting until late
this week, it was believed actual
hearings could hardly be started
before the January IA strike date.
Although neither the CIO union
nor the United States Steel Corp
has announced its attitude toward
the investigation, Nathan P. Fem
singer, panel chairman, told news
men 1--WE have no reason to believe
that either party will refuse to CO.
operate" His associates on the
board are Associate Justice James
M. Douglas of the Missouri Supreme
Court and Associate Justice Roger
I. McDonough of the Utah Supreme
Court.
In setting up the board, Mr.. Tru-
man requested OPA to conulete bv