NO DOUBLE PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 7

NO DOUBLE PAY

AUTOMOBILE WOEKEES WEEK-ENDS AND HOLIDAYS MR. ROOSEVELT'S APPEAL (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) DETROIT, April 7 A war conference of United Automobile Workers' delegates decided with a unanimous voice to vote for the victory programme of the executive board of the Congress of Industrial Organisations, waiving double pay rates for week-end and holiday work for the duration of the war, and also urging President Roosevelt and Congress tc ban all war profiteering. The vote followed a boisterous session which lasted all day in which the rank and file and leaders of United Automobile Workers repeatedly reluctance to waive premium pay until employers were compelled to make equal sacrifices. The president of the conference, Mr. R. J. Thomas, and other union leaders, who were frankly fearful of the mounting anti-Labour sentiment in Congress, warned delegates that the whole question of maintaining the 40-hour week hinged on United Automobile Workers' acceptance of President Roosevelt's request for the suspension of double-time wage payments. The Seven-Bay Week President Roosevelt sent the following letter to Mr. R. J. Thomas: "To overtake and outstrip Axis production, our munition factories and shipyards must operate on a seven-day ' week. Every day must be a work day. That does not mean that every man must work seven days a week. That would slow up rather than quicken production. But it does mean that every factory and shipyard should be working seven days a week, night and day. The war does not stop for Sundays and holidays.

"Provision in some union contracts requiring double time or other premium pay for week-end and holiday work is quite understandable in peacetime, but in wartime it puts the brake on production and causes factories to close on Sundays and holidays and it helps our enemies. The Congress of Industrial Organisations, acting concurrently with the American Federation of Labour, has wisely and patriotically recommended that double and premium time for work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays where such days fall within the normal work week bo given up for the duration of the war and that these days be treated like any other day of the week.

Expedite War Production

"I am sure that with the knowledge that- this policy will help to expedite war production it will have your wholehearted support. 1 am likewise sure that this policy will commend itself to the rank and "file of American workers everywhere. "the relinquishing of double time should not operate as a windfall to any emplover or group of employers. We are asking for sacrifices from no group for the selfish benefit of any other group. It is the intention of the Government to negotiate fresh contracts with employers wherever necessary to ensure that savings from the relinquishing of double or premium time will go not to the employer, but to the nation."

KOEPANG AND LAE ALLIED BOMBERS HIT HARD SEVERAL PLANES DESTROYED MELBOURNE, April 8 Allied bombers raided Koepang, in Dutch Timor, yesterday. Japanese fighters tried to intercept the raiders at least three times, but bombs, were dropped in the target area. A war communique states that Allied bombers and fighters attacked the enemy aerodrome at Lae early this morning, -.inways and buildings were successfully bombed, and it is believed that several enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Later messages stated that in the raid on Lae direct hits were scored on five or six enemy fighters on the ground, and a number of bombers were also hit. One Japanese fighter was shot down in the air.

TOTAL WAR EFFORT FULL USE OF MANPOWER LONDON, April 8 The setting up of a permanent committee to report direct to the War Cabinet on manpower questions is suggested by the Select Committee on National Expenditure. The committee considers that Britain's manpower resources can be more fully employed to achieve a total war effort. It recommends the employment of a larger number of women, and a greater degree of standardisation in design. '