Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-01-18
Strikers
Woising For
Management
Continued From Page One


Continued From Page One
the strike squarely in the lap of
the GIN management,
After the corporations Presi-
dent c. E. Wilson had literally
fhumbed his nose at the fact
finding paneEs recommendation,
the UAW-CIO announced that it
would give the corporation
seven DAYS to reconsider its first
action before going back to its
original 80 per cent demand.
Seen AS Victory
Seen as a clear-cut union vic
tory was the fact that the panel,
which was appointed on Dec. IA,
found that the increase in wages
could be made without any rise
in prices of GIN products. The
report recalled that President
Truman had previously declared
that u. S. industry could afford
to pay substantial increases.
Another UAW victory was
seen in the fact that the panel
took cognizance of the corpora
tion's ability to pay. This ques-
ton. pressed by the union over
vehement GM objections, final
ly resulted in the corporation
representatives walking out on
the fact-finding deliberations, an
action which the report said
handicapped" the panels work.
In a footnote to the report the
panel declared that Our calcu-
lations show that the com
psny can earn, in the first II
months following the resump-
ton of production, profits in ex-
cess of those of the base period
used by the OPA for pricing
purposes.
Replies To GM Fears
Replying to GINS frantics
fears that consideration of abil-
fty to pay would disrupt the free
enterprise system the panel
pointed out that there is moth
ing new in this practice of con-
sidering ability TO pay as one,
but only one, of the factors in
a wage controversy
The recommendations Of the
board were: THAT the strike,
which began Nov. 81, he called
off. 2-That the status quo pre-
vailing before the strike be re-
stored by the reinstatement of
the 1945 contract which was
cancelled on Dec. 10 by the COM
pany. 3-That after reinstate-
ment of the contract and pend
ing its expiration on Apr 26,
1916 the parties settle the re-
manning issues by collective bar
gaining 4-That the manage
ment and the union join in a
whole hearted effort to restore
production as speedily as pos
6ible.
Breakdown OF negotiations
with u. S. Steel came almost at
the same instant that General
Motors announced that il would
not accept the proposal of the
Presidential Fact-Finding Board
for a 191zc an hour wage in
crease for the 100000 striking
GM workers. This, many OBJ
servers say, confirmed charges
that a united front of big indus
try opposes the workers wage
demands.
Reliable reports here are that
heads of GM, T. S. Steel, Cen
eral Electric, Westinghouse and
others met in Wall Street two
weeks ago to plan a common
strategy to keep wages down
and TO break the strikes.
Philip Murray, USA and CIT
president, met last week with
the heads Of u. S. Steel at the
request of the steel Fact-Finding
Board. Murray offered to modi-
fly the unions demand for
basic 25c an hour TO zoe an hour,
q rate slightly less than 1870
above the current rate. u. s.
Steel countered with an offer of
only 15c an hour, and refused
to bulge.
The meetings last week were
the first with the giant steel cor
poration since October, when
u. s. Steel twice turned down
Labor Secy. Lewis b. Schwellen-
bach's appeals to meet with the
union.
Agree On Price
The resumption of negotia-
tions came after a commitment
70 the corporation by top Ad-
ministration stabiliZation Off
cials to allow a rise in price
ceilings despite OPA protests.
The companies had refused to
bargain with the union because
of OPA's refusal to grant a gen.
eral price increase In steel Of 81
a ton. Last week, OPA admins
traitor Chester Bowles under
heavy pressure agreed that a
rise of 81 to $3.50 a ton might
be justified
The union, while staying out |
Of the price boost fight, had as
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