U.S. LABOUR DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 156, 30 December 1944, Page 9

U.S. LABOUR DISPUTE

; PRESIDENT ACTS NEW YORK, Dec. 28.' The army has seized the Montgomery Ward Company's retail and mail order properties in seven cities, acting under the* Presidential order because of the company's refusal to comply with the War Labour Board's directives, which chiefly concerned the maintenance of union membership. The C.1.0. unions threatened a general strike of war workers in Detroit unless the Government promptly supported the War Labour Board. Yesterday 50 unidentified rioters wrecked the company's Dearborn store, causing 10,000 dollars' worth of damage. President Roosevelt's order, said: "The Government cannot and will not tolerate any interference with war i production at this crucial hour. This j company has waged a bitter fight! .against bona fide trade unions through- ! out the war, recklessly disregarding j ! the Government's efforts to maintain j harmony between management and; (labour. Twice previously the Govern-, ment seized Montgomery Ward properties because of the company's »defiant attitude. We cannot allow Montgomery Ward to set aside the Government's wartime policies because Mr. Sewell Avery disapproves of Government procedure in labour disputes." The G. 1.0. Union president,- Samuel Wolchok, stated that the union expects the War Department to continue to operate Montgomery Ward until the management accepts the War Labour Board's decisions. Mr. Wolchok asked that workers be given a -delayed Christmas present in the form of retrospective pay of two million dollars to which they are entitled.