Evening star., 1949-05-20
Peace Talks Will End
Unless Ford Takes Up
Contract, UAW Says
BY me Assoeie.ed Press

S~ AS>~A 4f4oy SOs- AAN ceA an
ing CIO United Auto Worker,
threatened today to end peace
talks with the Ford Motor Co.
Coincident with the JAW,
threat, the Federal Government
after a Ford request-prepared te
intervene as a mediator. Fore
assailed the unions attitude" ir
the private talks.
The maneuvers came as the
unions "speedup" strike. which
has made more than 100000 work
ers idle, entered its 18th day with
an agreement apparently still
distant.
Ford and the UAW are disput-
ing workmen's production rates at
Ford's Rouge and Lincoln Mercury
plants.
Another Session Today.
The union, at a strikers mass
meeting last night, made It's
threat to quit negotiations unless
Ford agreed to go into simultane-
Gus new contract discussions.
Meanwhile. a 10th negotiation
session was set for today.
Walter Reuther. UAW presi-
dent, demanded that Ford start
contract talks next Monday and
continue simultaneously with
strike negotiations until both
matters are disposed Of"
There was no immediate reply
from Ford.
Mr.. Reuther said the union was
unwilling to negotiate on either
subject to the exclusion of the
other"
Bugas Asks Intervention.
Earlier Ford asked the Govern
ment's Intervention as mediator
in the strike and the request was
granted.
Vice President John S. Bugas,
chief negotiator for the company,
accused the union of being "un-
willing to attempt to make any
progress by negotiation" without
mediation.
Mr.. Bugas made his request to
Arthur c. Wat, Detroit director
for the Governments Mediation
and Cancellation Service, after an
other five hours Of fruitlesS nego-
tiations.
In view Of this (unionD atti-
tude," Mr.. Bugas said. I'VE hope
you will be able to attend our
negotiations. We want to offer
every possible cooperation :"
The UAW asked Federal media
ton last Saturday. Ford did not
join in that request and until
yesterday had preferred to con-
tinue with private negotiations.
Union Cites "Obligations."
AS a mediator, the Government
has no authority to order a settle
ment. It can only make recon-
mendations and try to draw the
parties together.
In Its demand for contract ne
sotiations the union said Ford was
bound by a statutory and con-
tractual" obligation.
Mr.. Reuther, in letter to Mr..
Bugas, said the union would con-
slider a company refusal as a
"clear breach" Of its obligation.
This, he said, would relieve the
union, "as a matter of law" OF
any obligation to go on with the
negotiations in the strike.
Before the strike the UAW pro-
posed that the contract negotia-
tions begin May 16. After the
strike had begun. the company
suggested a June / date and indi-
Gated it would be disinclined to
20 ahead then If the strike were
still in effect.
Contract Expires July Is.
The present Ford JAW con-
tract expires July Is.
The UAW intends to make
Sl00-a-month worker pensions its
chief goal in it's contract talks
this year. Medical and hospital
insurance and a wage increase
also are to be sought.
BY union estimate, $4,000 strik-
ers attended last nights mass
meeting at the State fair grounds
coliseum.
The meeting. in addition to
backing up Mr.. Reuther's pro-
posal for contract talks. demand
ed the reinstatement Of 20 dis
charged Ford employees as a con-
dition of returning to work in
event other terms are reached in
the strike.
Ford fred the 20 on various
charges connected with what the
company called wildcat strikes
and other incidents.