War & Peace

Exactly two hours after the Western Electric settlement officially ended the nation's only major strike, 3,800 members of the Foremen's Association of America started another by walking out of three Ford plants in Detroit.

Wages were not an issue this time. With both congressional labor bills dead-aimed at their right to bargain under the Wagner act, they were scrambling against time for a contract which would give them a dues checkoff, a liberalized retirement plan, the right to speak for non-union foremen as well as F.A.A. members. Ford officials conceded that the strikers might be able to cripple production within a week.

Elsewhere labor seemed less inclined to follow the disastrous tactics of the telephone workers, and more inclined to follow the successful strategy of Phil Murray's steelworkers. Both the railroad trainmen's A. F. Whitney and the National Maritime Union's Joe Curran, who had hit the nation a one-two punch last year, were now breathing peaceful assurances.

Curran was sure the five C.I.O. maritime unions would be able to complete negotiations before their contracts expire June 15. Whitney announced that the five operating brotherhoods, freed from the one-year moratorium on rules changes imposed by President Truman, would start all over again through the time-consuming procedures of the Railway Labor Act.

Most of labor was wearing its good will like a new spring hat. In Columbus, Ohio, seven Arthur Murray dancers seized the moment, and the chance for a little publicity, by kicking up their heels in a carefree demonstration over the dismissal of three of the instructors (see cut).

Even John Lewis* seemed in less vengeful mood. From what leaked out about his starting demands on the private operators, they were, as usual, stupendous: a five-day, 40-hour week, at the same pay as for the present 54-hour week; doubling of the 5-c-: royalty for his welfare fund on each ton of coal mined; inclusion of supervisors in his contract. But for the first time since 1943 he had agreed to separate sessions with Northern and Southern operators. Mineworkers headquarters henchmen were already talking confidently of an agreement by June 15--if not before.

* Whose miners last week were granted a three-day holiday to celebrate the end of Government controls on June 30.

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