STRIKE DANGER ENDED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 March 1937, Page 7

STRIKE DANGER ENDED.

PEACE IN STEEL INDUSTRY. MORE- STRIKES IN MOTOR INDUSTRY ) (By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Wednesday, 9.5 p.m. PITTSBURG, March 3.' Carnegie (Illinois) have signed the agreement with the union granting recognition and a wage increase and a forty-hour week besides other demands, thus ending the possibility of a general steel strike in the spring which was ■ previously' freely predicted. The agreement is the first with an independent trade union in the history . of the United States Steel Corporation. The news was received with rejoicing in Washington by the Secretary of Labour, Miss Frances Perkins, and Mr. Edison (Naval Secretary). The latter announced that he would immediately readvertise for bids for 25,000,000 pounds of steel which is urgently needed for naval construction. He indicated that officials feel that a settlement of the steel troubles is particularly timely due to the announcement that Britain would have 25 capital ships in 1942 and it was the recognised United States policy to keep pace with the leader. United (States Steel has been one of the bitterest foes of organised labour and the conference resulted in an agreement for the first time'in the past fifty years. The corporation was even willing to discuss negotiation with the unions, therefore the C. 1.0. victory is hailed by union leaders and the Administration at Washington as the forerunner of a widespread acceptance of the Walsh-Healey Act. A minimum labour standard in other large Industries is now believed probable.. Some quarters consider President Roosevelt is delaying the presentation of his labour legislation programme in, the hope that other industries will fol- ’ low the lead of the steel and motor industries in entering wage and hour agreements through bargaining. Meanwhile five new strikes have begun at Detroit bringing the total to nine. The Motor Product Company and the Murray Corporation which manufacture bodies and parts for motors have been been closed through a strike of 7000 employees. The Zenith Carburettor Company has also been' closed through a strike of 750 workers. Two large restaurants have closed through a sit-down strike of waitresses and kitchen employees. The strikes continue in two other Indus tidal plants and two Woolworth stores.-