Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1951-02-16

civilian production in these two
industries alone.
Right here in Toledo thousands
M of workers will be laid off within
NN the next 80 to 60 days according
to present production scheduling
And seems to be able to do
- anything about it.
Not that this is "new" prob
lem Tt isn't The top level leader
~ @ ship of the UAW-CIO d
X8 ~ MMa about just such development as
- about to experience many
o'o N'"i" many weeks ago. President Reu-
ther, k for the International Executive
Board, told official Washington that civilian cut
backs should be arranged in such way to allow
defense work to take the place of curtaled civilian
production and thus avoid mass lay-offs of workers.
V'I1E SITUATION is critical that the auto
l. mobile industry executives recognize it, Chrysler
announced not so long ago that with the ordered
cutbacks in production they will be forced to
lay-off 25 900 workers UAW-CIO officials say that
already nearly 900 Chrysler, Plymouth and
Dodge workers have been forced into idleness.
To what extent lay-offs have hit other auto
manufacturers is not known exactly However, the
fact that in October Of last only $4,000 work
claimed unemployment benefits in Michigan as
against $4,000 claims filed last month is indicative
Of what is taking place
We might add that auto industry officials esti-
mate that between 100000 to 100000 workers will
be laid off when the full effect Of the government
ordered production curtailments hit the auto in
dustry.
UAW-CIO officials estimate the number Of un-
employed to hit around $50, 900.
WHAT makes this situation critical Is
w the fact that most of these workers will not
be able to find employment in defense work until
sometime in 1882 True, some government officials
disagree with this, but one in responsible office
in government seems able to show where and when
these unemployed workers will be- able to locate
themselves in defense work before 1852.
This already serious situation is made more tense
by the apparent disregard with which Defense
Mobilization Director Charles E. Wilson looks upon
all suggestions concerning national defense SUBJ
mitted to him by Organized Labor. Unlike KnudsOn
under President Roosevelt, Wilson under President
Truman is determined to "run the show" to suit
himself. There is no Sidney Hillman in the defense
set-up. As matter of fact there are labor rep
resentatives anywhere in the top policy set-up in
Washington today
To make the situation worse, if that were pos
sible, Wilson took the manpower problem out of
the Department of Labor despite the unanimous
and vigorous opposition of the entire labor
ment. +. -'.t ~
Consequently, the situation at the moment is
very fluid" Organized Labor, more united than
ever BEFORE is very displeased the way things
handled in Washington. quiet but nonethe-
less bitter struggle is being waged behind the
about wages and prices Some government people
insist doing away with the cOst-of living escala
tor clauses in labor agreements. This, of course,
would hit the UAW-CIO hardest of ALL More, these
people also insisting upon the elimination of the
SO-called annual wage Improvement factor of &c
that great many UAW CIO agreements call for.
Nor is there agreement between Organized La
Dor and government officials regarding prices, with
the former demanding genuine price roll backs.
All in ALL the situation in Washington today is
extremely critical and only the future will show
which way things will CO. Fortunately, there are
high government officials who feel that Labors
beefs' serious and worthy of every considera-
ton. Furthermore, they fear - and quite properly
so-that unless these things taken into consid-
Grafton considerable unrest may develop along the
labor front