Evening star., 1950-04-17
CtrysIer Negotiators
Optimistic Despite
UAW Snub Of Offer
BY the Assoeioisd Press d

DETROIT. April 1.-THE door
seemed open today for an early
settlement of the costly. 83-day
Chrysler strike.
Optimism prevailed although
the CIO- United Auto Workers re-
jected yesterday what Chrysler
Corp. termed its final" offer in
the stubborn pension dispute. .
AS negotiations resumed today,
observers pointed out that none
of the six objections the UAW
listed were vital issues. They also
said it seemed probable ChrySler
would be willing to rework parts
Of its proposal to get a settlement.
One thing appeared certain
that in principle the two sides
are closer than at any time since
$4,000 Chrysler workers walked of
their jobs January Is.
Reuther Underlines Point.
Walter P. Reuther, UAW presi-
dent. underlined that point when
he said after yesterdays offer:
I'VE are glad that at this date
Chrysler has finally agreed to pro-
vide pensions for their workers
guaranteed by a sound trust
fund"
The means of financing $100-a-
month pensions for workers who
are IS years of age, and have Is
years service. has been the nub
of the dispute.
Chrysler described it's proposal,
which gives the UAW a choice of
three pension systems, "the best
pension and insurance offer that
any large company in the auto
motive industry has ever offered
the union"
All Plans Pay $1OO.
In any of the three plans,
Chrysler would pay pensions of
500 a month, including social
security.
The UAW rejection brought
charges from Herman L. Week
Ter, Chrysler vice president that
union purposes which have moth
ing to do with the declared strike
objectives" have prolonged the
strike.
"One fact seems unmistakably
clear" Mr.. Weckler added. This
strike cannot be for sound pen
sion and insurance benefits. Those
are on the table"
Chrysler said one of the choices
it offered the union was a go
year level premium funding plan"
like the one the UAW accepted
earlier from the Ford Motor Co.
Another was establishment of an
actuarially sound trust fund
backed by a $50 million sum, SINH
lar to the funding method used in
the Bethlehem Steel Co. pension
plan.
u. 8. Steel System.
The third, management spokes-
men said. would follow a system
worked out at United States Steel
Co.. by which the corporation
would pay into a fund money to
cover years already worked by
each employe and future service
credits as the employe' works to-
ward earning pensions.
These were the reasons the
auto union listed for finding the
offer inadequate:
1-Employes would lose all
claim to pension benefits if they
were laid off for more than two
years.
2-Workers would have to re-
tire at 68 and could not build
future pension benefits after they
are 65.
3. Benefits for workers retiring
before they are IS and with less
than Is years service are made
quate.
4. No credit is given for vacation
pay. leave or absence. sickness,
union business and injuries COW
cred by workmen's compensation.
S. Chrysler proposes to pay only
half of hospital and surgical bene-
fits. instead of the entire sum the
union demanded.
s. Chrysler would pay only a
little of sickness and disability
benefits. :
Once the pension issue and
other tied-in economic points are
settled. strike mediators believe
several days additional negotia-
tions may be needed to clear ur
non-economic matters such as
grievance procedure, seniority and
union security.