Evening star., 1946-01-03
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Federal labor officials were
hopeful today that the impend-
ing strike in the meat packing
industry could be averted
through settlement of the dis
pute and they warned solemnly
that the Government would not
permit a work stoppage to in
terfere with the Nations food
supply.
Government seizure of a major
portion of the packing industry
was regarded as a near certainty
by the officials unless the packers
and CIO United Packinghouse
Workers reach a wage agreement.
1t was held likely that seizure ac-
ton would be taken in advance of
January 16, the scheduled date of
walkout of 100000 workers in lat
plants over the country unless set
tlement seems imminent.
A labor official commented. how
ever, that ne had reason to believe
the industry and union "are much
closer together on a settlement than
would seem to be the case from the
announcement of both sides"
Strategy Meeting Held.
Meanwhile, CIO leaders directing
strikes or strike threats in the au-
tomobile, steel and electrical indus
tries met here today in a joint
strategy meeting.
Taking part in the conference
were CIO President Philip Murray
who also is directing the scheduled
walkout of 100000 United Steel
Workers, January IA: President R. j.
Thomas of the United Auto Work
ers; UAW Vice President Walter p.
Reuther, directing the General
Motors strike; Albert J. Fitzgerald.
head of the United Electrical Work
ers, and others.
The CIO leaders presumably were
concerned with working out tactics
for joint action as well as possibly
preparing reply to President Tru-
mans speech tonight, in which
heavy emphasis is expected to be
placed on industrial troubles.
No Progress in Talks.
Edgar l.. Warren, head of the
Labor Department Cancellation
Service, met separately yesterday
with officials of the General Electric
and Westinghouse companies for
discussions of their wage differ
ences with the CIO-UE. Union
officials will meet in New York Sat-
urday to set date for strike in
support of their 100000 workers de-
mands for So per day higher pay.
Mr.. Warren later told reporters
that "at this point our efforts have
not been successful" in averting the
threatened strike. Neil Brant, WASH
inston representative of UE, said
Mr.. Warren had advised him that he
had made mo progress whatsoever"
GE was said to have addressed
letter to the union that it was
ready for further discussions on the
10 per cent wage increase it had
offered workers earlier. That offer
had been rejected by the UE. Mr..
Warren was quoted as telling the
union that in the conferences neither
GE nor Westinghouse indicated a
willingness to go further. Mr..
Brant said Westinghouse had made
no offer.
Oil Report Asked.
Meanwhile, the Government Fact
finding Board investigating the oil
industry dispute, which recessed it's
hearings until next Monday, called
for a progress report from the II
major oil companies negotiating
with the CIO union on demand
for 80 per cent higher wages. Hear
ings were recessed when both sides
informed the board that several
companies were near settlement of
their wage differences.
Having no response as to prog
ress OF conference from you to
date will you kindly wire us the
status of negotiations" the board
telegraphed the companies. The
message stated that hearings would
resume here January Z "in any case
where agreement has not been
reached"
Government officials said they un-
derstood that agreements were Still
imminent between the oil workers
and the Shell Oil Co. on the West
(See LABOR, Page A-3)