Evening star., 1946-02-28
January Strike-|dIe
Highest in History;
Output at 5-Year Low
By jones Y. Newton

BY james Y. Newton
The number of strike-idle
workers in January was the
highest on record and Americas s
industrial output has dropped to
the lowest point since the spring
of 1941 because of work stop
pages, the Government reported
today.
Labor Department figures showed
that 500 strikes or lockouts were
in progress last month, involving
a total of 1,750,000 workers. This
idleness resulted in loss of 19,200,
900 man-days or 3.13 per cent OF
total possible working time The
big strikes in steel, General Motors
meat packing and electrical appli-
ances accounted for most of the
time lost.
John D. Small, civilian production
administrator, reporting that the
Nations output of goods dropped to
a five-year low last month, predicted
that figures for February would
6how a further decline.
The business situation is sound
financially" he said, and solution OF
wage-price problems will bring
steady and rather rapid" produc-
ton gains. Mr.. Small said the road
to full production is fast, very
fast" application of the Govern
ment's new wage-price policy.
Meanwhile, representatives of the
Nations soft coal industry said they
expect formal notification by Satur-
day that John L. Lewis wants to re-
open his United Mine Workers H.
month-old work contract. They
look for actual presentation of wage
and other demands about March IL
Officials believe that in his wage
demands this year Mr.. Lewis will
present the severest test of new
stabilizStion policy, and the coal
negotiations will determine whether
there Is a firm wage-price program
Most Federal labor officials believe
it will be difficult to avoid long
and bitter coal dispute this spring
Steel Strike Big Factor.
In his monthly report Mr.. Small
said that the month-long steel strike
had delayed "by several weeks the
achieving of prewar levels of output
in many consumer goods industries. .
He added 1t will take five or six weeks
for steel mills to return to full pro-
duction.
The output of some consumer
goods, such as automobiles, trucks,
tires, radios and sewing machines,
showed an increase last month over
December, despite the general slump
which Mr.. Small attributed to ia
Dor arrangement difficulties" Hard
est hit by work stoppages was manu-
facture of electrical appliances
refrigerators, washing machines
electric irons and vacuum cleaners
The CPA head asserted that nee
essary production and distribution
controls cannot succeed unless they
are accompanied by fair and equit-
able prices" He is an advocate OF
a realistic and flexible" price
policy.
Full Production Needed.
New wsge-price policy, Mr.. Small
continued, must enable American
industry to obtain promptly the
necessary adjustments to swing into
full production Immediately"
Although the strike situation has
Increased inflationary pressures by
widening the gap between goods
and demand" the report stated
there were mo significant shifts In
overall price levels" in January.
Here's the CPA's latest report on
consumer goods:
Automobiles-Despite work STOP
pages, 58,575 passenger cars were
produced in January, nearly double
the December rate. Shortages o1
upholstery and parts may curtai
future production.
Nylon hosiery-Production should
be in full swing in go to 80 days
but it will be many months before
supply will begin to catch up with
demand"
Radio Output Rises.
Radios-January shipments to.
tailed about 100000, as compared
with 250000 during the final three
months of 1945.
Refrigerators - Strikes affecting
three major producers kept Janu
ary production and shipments dowr
by 40 per cent to 100000 units, a.
compared with 125, 900 in December
Electric stoves - the Electrical
Workers strike hit production II
January, after a sharp upward trent
during the fourth quarter of las
year. when shipments totaled 70,64'
units, half the average prewar rate
Sewing machines-January pro
duction was 81 per cent over Decem
.ber, but output still was only abou
Is per cent of the prewar rate o
$4,000 monthly.
Washington machines-also affect
ed by the Electrical Workers strike
Output was probably less" thai
the $4,000 units shipped in Decem
ber.
Electric Irons-Similarly affected
by the strike, after an upware
monthly trend of about 867 900 unit!
for the fourth quarter of 1945. Thi!
was 76 per cent of the prewar aver
age rate.
Vacuum Cleaners - Shortages O
parts retarded shipments in Janu
ary. They had risen to 100000 unit
in the fourth quarter of 1945, or A
per cent of prewar average
Passenger Tires-January produc
ton exceeded 100000 tires, as com
pared with 100000 in Decembe
and 100000 in September.
Arctic Tern Flies Far