Evening star., 1952-05-01
Shortages Of Gasoline
Occur rim Midweston
I'd Day Of Oil Strike
BY the Associated Press

DA14N A1AS, way -
wide strike of nearly 10000 union
lied oil industry workmen went
into its second day today with
shortages of gasoline for motorists
already reported in scattered
areas.
Some filling stations in the
steel-producing area of Gary,
Hammond and East Chicago, Ind,
reported they were out of gaso-
line last night, less than "a hours
after the strike began. Other
stations were expected to run out
today. Similar shortages were
cropping up elsewhere in the Mid
west.
In Washington, Government
officials said shortages must be
expected if the strike is prolonged.
They estimated the country has
about a 45-day supply of gasoline
and said reduction of current
stocks by one-half would mean a
major Nationwide shortage.
Negotiations at San Francisco.
The Oil Workers International
Union (CIO in Denver, repre-
senting refinery and pipeline work.
ers and heading a coalition of %
CIO, AFL and independent oil
unions, said 1.-The most promising"
negotiations were going on in San
Francisco.
Officials said the union in talks
with Shell Oil had trimmed its
original demand for a 25-centj
hourly wage boost to % cents and
"a lot of other compromises are
being kicked around"
The unions also are asking in
creased dlfferential pay. They
want instead of 4 cents for the
4 pm. to midnight shift and 12i
instead Of 6 cents for the mid
night to dawn shift.
The average wage in the indus
try now ranges from 81 to $2.10I
hourly. s.
Announcement Draws Protest.
Cyrus S. Ching, chief of the
Federal Mediation Service, had
predicted q possible Nationwide
pattern for settlement from an
agreement he said was reached at
Standard Oil of Indiana's Sugar
Greek (Mo0 refinery.
Between $50 and 300 members
- 10 CD vi IH%
tested Mr.. Ching's announcement. !
They said the reported agreement
was false and put them in the
role of strike breakers.
Mr.. Ching had said the agree
ment provided for a 15-cent hour
ly wage increase the unions diff
ferential demands.
Non-striking AFL union men,
bers in Northwest Texas last night
agreed to a new contract with the
Phillips Petroleum Co. The agree
ment grants a general wage in
crease of Is cents an hour, re-
troactive to October /. 1851, and
night differential pay ranging from
4 to 6 cents an hour in the AFTER
noon to to IL cents at night.
Arkansas Plant Picketed.
Meanwhile, at Ell Dorado, Ark,
CIO oil workers joined the strike
by picketing Lion Oils big chem
ical plant. There were uncon-I
firmed reports that about $50 AFL
machinists honored the picket
line. 4
Most of the struck facilities
were closed down today. Il &
Air transport was expected to-
feel the pinch of high octane gas
oline shortage. Secretary of the
Interior Chapman predicted it
would be the first transportation
industry to be hit hard.
The defense effort, railroading
and private industry are not ex-
pected to be affected seriously.
Natural gas flow through pipe
lines is being maintained by super
visory personnel. The seven-State
area serviced by Panhandle-East-
ern, however, reduced its supply to
some 100000 customers in Texas,
Kansas, Oklahoma, Ohio, Mis-
siouri, Illinois and Michigan.
Texas Gov. Allan Shivers said he
believes President Truman should
invoke the Hartley law. Some
$4,000 are on strike in that State
alone. Gov. Shivers said two
month strike could put the Texas
treasury in the red.