Evening star., 1946-04-01
milk Producers
-. ~
Strike
ToGet Increase
Demand Two Cents
More Per Quart
In District Area

Lie NldI Iyldllu ana virginia
Milk Producers Association to-
day served notice that it would
instruct dairymen in the Wash
ington area to withhold all milk
from the market "if the Federal
Government does not approve
promptly a substantial increase
in. the price to producers"
Bruce B. Derrick, manager of the
association, who disclosed the
groups stand at the outset of an
Agriculture Department hearing on
a price increase in milk. said this
amounted to threat of strike by
dairymen
1t was said earlier that the pro-
posed increase to producers might
raise the retail price of milk 2
cents quart
Union Demands Also Made.
In addition to the producers de-
mands for higher prices, there are
the demands of union employees of
milk distributors for higher wages.
spokesman who has followed the
various steps in progress said con-
sumers possibly might be called on
to pay increases which would run
as high as or cents a quart.
However, it was indicated this repre-
sented the blackest side of the
picture.
The cents quart increase
asked by the producers is in ad-
dltlon to the present 2-cent a quart
subsidy which expires May 30. If
the subsidy should be withdrawn,
the distributors expect the demand
for cents would be made on them.
however, there was said to be con-
siderable optimism that the 2-cent
SUBSIDY would be continued.
The Government today stepped
into the wage controversy between
the drivers and the distributors.
A meeting was being arranged
Tor this afternoon, possibly in the
Labor Department, at which dis
trlbutors and representatives of
union employees would confer with
Gilbert McCutcheon of the Con-
cillation Service.
Strike Notice Served.
Herman Schultheis, chairman of
the labor negotiating committee
for the employers. said if the union
proposals are agreed to it would
cost the distributors from 3 to )
cents a quart.
The union, Milk Drivers and Dairy
Employees Local No 246 of the In
ternal Brotherhood of Teamsters.
AFL, has served 30-day notice of a
strike, the period expiring April Is.
Mr.. Schultheis, however, said the
employees have had no opportunity to
talk the strike threat over with the
union representa- tiveS and it was
hoped that would develope at this
afternoons meeting. Chief among
the unions demands is a 81 weekly
raise for both retail and wholesale
drivers, plus increased commissions
The milk producers association be-
gan presenting its case for a higher
return today at a hearing before
agriculture Department officials in
the Jefferson Memorial Auditorium
IN the South Agriculture Building.
AS the hearing began. Mr.. Derrick
said producers had grown tired" of
the Government delaying action on
requests for price increase over the
past lew years. He pointed out that
we still haven't heard from the
department on a hearing held in
September, 1943.
No Action Taken.
i Similarly, he said. there had been
no department action on a hearine
held last April.
/ Mr.. Derrick revealed that the as.
soclation's ultimatum to the Gov
ernment had been drawn up at q
recent board of directors meeting
at which time the group had agreed
to request an increase of SO cents
a hundredweight.
The boards resolution on with
holding milk from the market read
as follows:
:, II the Federal Government does
, not approve promptly a substantial
increase in the price to producers
i, delivering milk to this market, the
management of this association is
nearby instructed to withhold all
; milk from the market until an ade.
quate price increase is forthcom.
ing"
Says Increase Is Overdue.
/ Mr.. Derrick pointed out that the
increase originally requested by the
association in January amounted te
only 10 per cent, but that the new
! Federal wage price policy and fur.
thef advances IN cost, both real
and prospective, forced the pro-
ducers to raise the request to i.
cents per quart or II per cent. in
order to meet adequately the level
OF the new bulge order
I The dairy Official added that the
price OF milk to farmers has re-
NAMED essentially the same fol
three years. and that "a price in
crease is long overdue"
The price increase requested by
the association would raise the pro.
ducer price to $498 a hundredweight
No increase is being asked for cot,
tage cheese, cream and other dairy
(See MILK, Page AID