Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-12-15
Fridays Deeember. IS, 1850 & <
Think II Over
Production Cufbocks
Expected To Cause Lurge
ScoIe Loyoffs
BY Pete Zvara

UNLESS SOME sort of miracle takes places be-
tween and the first of the year, large number
of workers now engaged in civilian production will
be laid Off from their jobs The problem is so Seri-
Gus that various unions, including our own UAW-
CIO, exerting great pressure official Wash
ington to ease the situation This critical situation is
brought about by the fact that while civilian produc
ton is already ordered to cutback to very serious
protions there are no defense jobs available to
vide work for those workers whose jobs will cease
when the full impact of cutbacks takes effect.
This is particularly SO in the non-ferrous metal
industries Some die casting plants already feel
ing the pinch 1t is no secret that layoffs in the die
casting plants may hit high as $50 of the total
working force Right here in Toledo this would add
up to hundreds of workers losing their jobs simply
because the use of such metals as zinc and alumni
mum for normal civilian are curtailed to a
siderable extent The extent of defense work in the
die casting industry at the present time is less than
27% OF the total production.
THE GOVERNMENT of course, ordered these
cutbacks. We are told that estimated defense needs
require that these metals be stockpiled for possible
future emergencies Nor is there much of a question
IN anyone's mind that we are facing emergency
already. How urgent this emergency may turn out
to be, and how quickly, of course no one knows.
The world situation is altogether too fluid, to
certain to allow even reckless representation. The
Korean situation may develop into large scale
worldwide conflict momentary. On the other hand
it is possible and even probable, that the present
crisis will pass and along with the rest of the
world - will find ourselves in a tense, but never
theless peaceful period the main characteristic of
winch Will be heavy ornaments of both the East
and the West. e.au-.
The immediate problem, however, will still be
the imminent large scale layoffs in civilian indus
tries How hard this situation will hit our people s
at the moment at least purely guess work.
f".tes.- @ ~ s@
ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING factor to possible
large scale unemployment is provided by the credit
restrictions of the government 1t is secret that
great number of workers are simply unable to fur
nish the large cash down payments now necessary
such substantial items major household goods te-
Lewiston sets, automobiles. New home construction
1T is reported, have already dropped as much as
35% But for the Christmas buying rush, equally
serious dips would be reported in other fields It
significant also that for first time since the end
of World War III practically every type of automo-
bile is available for Immediate delivery" An
heard of situation before the current credit resrc
tions.
Now, if on top of all this large numbers of our
workers will lose their jobs because of the ordered
cVli1an cutbacks, the resulting hardships and
fusion may prove to be of major proportions
AS FAR AS THE UNIONS are concerned the re-
medy to all this is rather simple First as President
Reuther pointed out the present credit restrictions
must be eased to make possible normal purchases
for the workers. And, second graduate the cutbacks
In civilian industries to enable the displaced
workers therein to gain jobs in defense work.
This, of course, is smplification of an extreme
ly complex and serious problem Nevertheless we
feel that to rush headlong into drastic curtailments
may result in more harm than good. Certainly this
is true of presently operating credit restrictions
In this case large sections of our business world
are fully in accord with proposals any event.
we ought to learn from mistakes Certainly we
shouldn't compound them