UNREST IN U.S.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 13, 16 January 1946, Page 5

UNREST IN U.S.

TROUBLED OUTLOOK IN INDUSTRY THREAT OF FURTHER STRIKES London, Jan. 14. The United Slates Congress reassembled to-day alter the Christmas recess with the American scene dominated by strikes and the threat of strikes.

A strike of 200,000 electrical workers is due to begin to-morrow, and more than 300,000 meat packers may stop work on Wednesday.

The National Federation of Telephone Workers Jias given the Government notice of its intention to call a strike throughout the United Slates in 30 days.

Talks to end the dispute in the steel industry are to be resumed at the White House on Wednesday. The deadlock persists in the strike at General Motors factories.

The United Electrical Workers’ Union has advised its 200,000 memoers to carry out the strike scheduled for January 15-

The union informed its members: "General Electric and Westinghouse yesterday rejected the union proposal that the strike be postponed on the basis of the companies’ offer of a wage increase of 15 cents an hour, and that the parties agree to negotiate on the remainder of the two-doilar demand.” General Motors and the council of the United Automobile Workers accepted a Government fact-finding proposal to increase wages by 17 i per cent, as a basis for settling the General Motors strike. However, the council decided to revert to the original demand of an increase of 30 per cent, unless the company accepts the compromise by January 21.

The National Labour Relations Board agreed to hold a hearing on the union's charges that General Motors had failed to bargain collectively. The board stated that it. had not acted previously because of the efforts of other Government agencies to settle the dispute, but the national interest now demanded the board’s decision.