Evening star., 1946-01-20
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

announced settlement of the
ree-month-old strike j.. the
strategic plate glass industry
as it resignedly awaited the i'm
pact of the walkout of 100000
steel workers - biggest in the
Nations history-set for mid
night.
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
reported that agreement on wages
had been reached between the CIO
Glass Workers and the Pittsburgh
Plate Glass Co. and Libby Owens
Ford Co., comprising more than 80
per cent of the fiat glass industry.
The strike began October 10, and
although only $1,000 workers in IL
plants were involved, it was Sc
riously affecting production, fore
ing shutdown of several automo-
bile plants.
The administration apparently
had no last-minute plans for avert
ing the steel shutdown. Federal
seizure of the giant industry was
not an immediate prospect, although
officials said such action will be
considered if the strike is pro-
longed.
Kaiser. Signs CIO Contract.
AS plans for the general strike
went forward, Henry J. Kaiser an.
nounced after White House con-
ference with President Truman and
Philip Murray, CIO president, that
he had signed an agreement with
the United Steel Workers. The
agreement boosts the pay of workers
at his big West Coast steel plant
1917 cents an hour, in line with the
Presidents proposal for settling
lndustry-wide wage differences.
Government officials said they fear
not only the direct effect on the
economy of lengthy steel strike
but also the indications that 1t
might spread into a showdown fight
between the CIO and big business,
involving many other industries
One official said that despite obvious
complications of such action, Presi-
dent Truman would seize the in
dustry before allowing the strike
to plunge the Nation into depres-
sion.
In another major labor develop
ment, Secretary Schwellenbach an
nounced that he personally would
attempt to settle the strike of 200
600 workers in the electrical appli-
ance industry which began last
Tuesday.
Mr.. Schwellenbach invited to a
conference here at 10 am. Tuesday
the principals in the big wage dis
pute. He sent the invitations to
Charles E. Wilson, president of Gen.
eral Electric Co.; Andrew w. Rob-
ertson, head of Westinghouse, and
Albert Fitzgerald, president of the
striking CIO United Electrical Work
ers. Mr.. Wilson Immediately replied
that he would be delighted to
attend.
GM Not Invited.
The electrical division of General
Motors Corp, the third appliance
manufacturer involved in the strike
was not asked to send a representa-
tive since the CIO union has stated
that negotiations with GIN are still
alive. The UEW originally de-
manded wage increase of Is cents
an hour, later scaling it down to
1872 cents in line with the recon-
mendation of the fact-finding board
in the GIN automotive strike.
The new Kaiser agreement, cov-
ering about 1000 workers, assured
continuation of operation at Mr.
Kaiser's war-built steel plant at
Fontana, Calf.
Mr.. Murray announced he hao
started negotiations on the same
basis as the Kaiser settlement with
two steel fabricating companies in
Reading, Pa. These are the Birds
boro Steel Co., employing about l.
400 men, and the American Chain
and Cable Co., employing about
1,200.
The CIO leader told newsmen at
the White House that Mr.. Kaiser
"as a great American has made a
contribution to the Nation" by
breaking the united front of the
steel makers.
Mr.. Kaiser said he told the Presi-
(See STEEL, Page A-4.)