TWO BIG STRIKES

Northern Advocate, 21 March 1934, Page 5

TWO BIG STRIKES

THREAT IN AMERICA SERIOUS LABOUR CRISIS MOTOR INDUSTRY AFFECTED. RAIRWAYS CONTROVERSA. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 0 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 19. The officials who are administering the National Recovery Act are faced with threats of two big strikes in what may lie described as the most serious Labour crisis President Roosevelt lias encountered yet. The American Federation of Labour has definitely called a general strike in the motor Industry for Wednesday, unless the manufacturers accede 1o their demands. The railway owner*? and the union brotherhoods have exchanged ultimata over the proposed cuts in wages.

The motor trade controversy centres upon, the interpretation of tlie collective bargaining clause of the Recovery Act. The leaders of the Federation of Labour are insisting that the workers have not had a free opportunity to chooee between their own organisations and • the so-called company unions. On the other hand, the Employers' Association 'flatly insists that it is willing to allow the workers to organise iudependentiv, but. will never recognise, nor negotiate with, the Federation of Labour. Quarter-Million Workers,

The strike called is expected to involve 250,000 Avorkcrs. It comes at a most critical time for the industry. With a flood of orders for motor cars awaiting fulfilment, a stoppage uoav Avill oeriously retard the progress of the motor and correlated industries.

Deports from Detroit state that the city is on edge. The Federation of Labour, Avhich hitherto has not represented the motor industry, is making elaborate plans for strike strategy. The Detroit Council ha<s petitioned Air Eoosevelt to use his good offices to vsettle the dispute, pointing out the serious consequence of a strike. The railways dispute is less acute, but more fundamental. The operators offered to AvithdraAV the 15 pci* cent cut if the unionists agreed to an extension of the existing 10 per cent. This AA’as flatly refused, and the oavuers then issued a counter-ultimatum to force the 15 per cent cut. Should this be attempted, a general strike appears to be inevitable, but not imminent, as it Avill be a considerable time before the present agreement expires.

PRESIDENT INTERVENES. RECONCILIATION EFFORTS. (Received 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, This Day. President Roosevelt today intervened in the labour dispute, calling for “delay strike” action in the automobile industry, pending conferences Avitli the manufacturers and the union leaders. with him in an effort to reconcile exisl ing difficult ies. Air Green, of the -American Federation of Labour, immediately urged the union leaders to accept. The President also warned the railAvay disputants that it might be necessary for him to appoint a commission of inquiry. Meanwhile the Federal Government has filed an equity suit against the Weitton Steel Company, charging violations of the N.I.R.A. code, particularly the labour provisions. Other labour difficulties reached a climax today in Philadelphia, Avhorc a boycott caused the collapse of the N.I.R.A. supervised union elections in the Budd Alanufaeturing Company plant to determine union representations for the purpose of collective bargaining, Though 0000 persons Averc eligible to vote, only 11 came fonvard the reason being , that employees wore required to sign their names to voting papers.