Evening star., 1946-12-13
23.5-Cent Poy Rise to Head
Contract Demands OF JAW

NEW YORK, Dec. Is lp.-The
CIO United Automobile Workers
will head into its 1047 contract ne
gotiations with demands for gen.
eral wage increases Of 23.5 cents an
hour for It's 9O0, 600 MEMBERS total
Of sl.6o2,0o0 4 day.
Catching up with imitation Is an
immediate and imperative demand
Of our workers." Union President
Walter p. Reuther said last night.
He said the increase could be grant,
ed without an increase In prices.
More than half million more
non -union workers In the auto
trades also would benefit from any
increases won by JAW, Mr.. Reuther
said in announcing demands after
q session OF the international Ex-
ecutive Board.
Additional demands, which can
not yet be reckoned In dollars and
cents. include proposals. for an
equalization fund to assure the same
wages for workers performing the
same tasks throughout the industry
and social security and retirement
plans.
Would Total Approximately as Pct.
It was estimated that these de-
mands. in addition to the 23.5 cents
hourly increase, would make the
overall raise demand approximately
30 cents an hour.
A 80 cents hourly wage increase
would amount to about 22.5 per cent
The JAW demand on wages still
was below 4 CIO.Adopted survey
maintaining industry could afford
wage rises UP to as per cent without
increasing prices. Adoption Of the
survey by Robert r. Nathan, former
Government economist and now 3
private economic consu1tant, was
announced In WAsliington Wednes-
day by C1O President Philip Murray.
@. r. Wilson, president OF General
Motors, said IN Chicago Tuesday
that the cost Of an automobile was
nearly all payroll, and car prices
would 60 up Is per cent II wages
were raised that much.
No Comment on Announcement.
Spokesmen for Ford, ohrysler and
General Motors had no immediate
comment In Detroit on Mr.. Reuther's
announcement.
Present average wage for auto
workers is 81 80 an hour, Mr.. Reuther
said, adding the proposed increase
would bring total wage raises to
53.8 cents since January. ie4l.
I'VE shall continue to press for
wage increases without price In.
creases. so that the people OF this
country shall have the purchasing
power to maintain full production
and full employment and to assure
wide distribution OF national pros
perity throughout the entire populA-
tion," Mr.. Reuther said in a state
ment.
Paying Price Of Surrender"
Observing that Government
recommendation last January pro-
vided an 1874 cents increase, Mr..
Reuther's statement said:
"since that time. the drive Of
major industries to smash price con-
troll has gained its ends, and our
workers along with all other Ameri-
can families are paying the price for
the surrender Of Congress and the
Government to industry pressure.
Living costs are now nearly Is per
cent higher than last January. and
require that auto industry wages be
increased 231s cents an hour across
the board to restore to them the
purchasing power Of their hourly
Justice to, the workers requires
that they shall not be penAlized by
an imitation which they did not
want, which they fought against and
which has been forced upon them by
the unbridled power Of the great
corporations which lead American
industry"
Declaring that corporations are
coming profits ut far greater rate
than ever in the past, in peace or In
war;" Mr.. Reuther said America en-
ters 4947 with the most inflated
boom that ever preceded 4 bust in
ell the long history Of private enter
prise In the United States"