INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES IN U.S.A.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 332, 13 January 1937, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES IN U.S.A.

o Strikes In General Motors’ Plants Increase. Press Association—Copyright. Flint (Michigan), January I'2. Eight hundred strikers rioted and seized the entire Fisher motor body plant, the second floor of which they had occupied since December 30. They fought at close quarters tflth the police for five hours and kept possession of the plant. The strikers, following directfOhs shouted from a sound truck which was guarded by 200 strikers, pulled cobblestones from the street and turned a hose inside the plant on the police, who exhausted their supply of tear gas. The police were ordered not to use machine-guns which were in readiness unless the strikers used guns which were reported to have been smuggled into the plant.

A Detroit message states that General Motors to-day announced the complete or partial closing of five additional factories, throwing into idleness 19,500 more employees. The reason was the shortage of glass and other consequences of widespread strikes in the automobile and kindred industries.

By Wednesday 34 of th e 69 General Motors plants are expected to be closed. Nearly 113,000 of the company’s 175,000 hourly workers in automobile trades have been forced into idleness. Further shut-downs during the week are hinted.