GENERAL MOTORS' STRIKE

Evening Star, Issue 25679, 31 December 1945, Page 8

GENERAL MOTORS' STRIKE

FACT-FINDING PANEL ADJOURNS WASHINGTON, December 29. The Fact-finding Panel investigating the General Motors strike adjourned sine die to prepare its recommendations, possibly within a fortnight, after both sides had made statenients. General Motors said: ‘‘Tfie idea of ability to pay is not applicable to an individual business within an industry as a basis for raising its wgges beyond the going rate. General Motors Corporation refuses! to subscribe to what it believes will ultimately become the death of the system of competitive enterprise. General Motors Corporation is not contending that it has or has not the ability to pay. It withdrew from the fact-finding • procedure findings because . apparently, the panel’s findings were -to be made politically on such economic fa.ctofg as, the costs, prices,, and profits on which , business success and progress •'•depend':", If the American people want regimented economy, they niust make their choice through their accredited representatives in Congress. General Motors Corporation for itself declines to take such a great responsibility,” . • (The United Automobile Workers’ vice-pre-sident, Mr Reuther, said : “ Unless General Motors Corporation negotiates a wage increase based on its ability to pay, the American people will be faced with a winter of industrial war that may spread to all American industry. The United Automobile Workers will not accept an increase of under 30 per cent., except and to the extent that General Motors ' Corporation ' cannot pay that increase without increasing prices to consumers. If General Motors Corporation’s statement represents the thinking of all American business, then we must sav: ‘ God help the American people.’ If facts and reason fail again, we are prepared to stay on the picket lines for I the duration of the home front war, however long it may last. This fight is for keeps.”