FURTHER STRIKES PREDICTED

Southland Times, Issue 23178, 20 April 1937, Page 7

FURTHER STRIKES PREDICTED

AMERICAN SYMPATHY WITH CANADIANS

UNION LEADER ACCUSED OF TREACHERY

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received April 19, 11.55 p.m.) TORONTO, April 19.

The Premier of Ontario (Mr M. F. Hepburn) alleged that the president of the Oshava branch of the United Automobile Workers (Mr Millard) was invited to the strike conference on Saturday only because an emissary pleaded that he would save his face with the strikers. Mr Millard repaid this kindness by attempting to double cross, said Mr Hepburn. He said that the leaders of the strike were losing control of the strikers, who would soon accept his plan for an independent union. Leaders of the Committee for Industrial Organization predicted that the “slow-down” strike in the American plans of the General Motors Corporation would be followed by walk-outs unless Canadian recognition was granted by Tuesday, and there was a possibility of sympathy strikes before an official call, because of the American workers’ resentment.

The president of the United Automobile Workers (Mr Homer Martin) is on his way to Washington to confer with Mr John L. Lewis, chairman of the C. 1.0. Half of 100 dress manufacturers in Montreal have recognized the C. 1.0. as the sole bargaining agency, and 2500 of the striking dress makers will return to work immediately. The situation is complicated by an announcement that the Catholic Church is opposed to international unionism because of its communist tendencies. The church is overwhelmingly strong in Quebec and the result of the pronouncement is awaited with interest.

The Newfoundland Legislature passed a law authorizing unions to compel employers to recognize them and bargain collectively. The Premier (Mr MacDonald) said that it was more advanced than most of the United States labour legislation. At Miami (Oklahoma) 6000 lead and zinc miners defied a mass meeting of the C. 1.0. and affiliated with the American Federation of Labour. They are smarting under the shooting at Galena on April 11. The leaders proclaimed that the action was the beginning of the downfall of Mr Lewis and his organization.