Letters: Man of the Year (Cont'd)

(3 of 5)

TIME says: "In the opinion of Labor, working conditions in the Briggs plants are a disgrace to Detroit."

Whatever this unidentified, indefinite "Labor" may say about labor conditions in Briggs plants, actual conditions there compare favorably with other plants in the automobile industry.

TIME says, referring to the 1933 strike, that a citizens' committee was appointed to look into Briggs's labor policies with results "by no means complimentary to the management."

Even that committee's report would scarcely justify TIME'S statements today. Moreover, the management, so far as labor relations are concerned, is entirely different today from what it was in 1933.

TIME says: "Last trouble at Briggs was an epidemic of departmental sit-down strikes a month ago which resulted in wage increases."

The facts are that, as already stated, Briggs has lost no production in the last four years on account of labor trouble in its plants; only one sit-down has occurred; that was among a small group of employes who sat down for 15 minutes because they were uncertain as to whether or not wage increases already decided upon were going to benefit them.

. . . The result is an inaccurate report which seriously reflects upon the Briggs company, and is regarded as exceedingly harmful to Briggs in its relations with the public, its employes and its customers and is provocative of trouble where trouble does not now exist.

WILLIAM P. BROWN Vice President & General Manager

Briggs Manufacturing Co. Detroit, Mich.

TIME regrets and would amend an injustice to the Briggs company through its failure to mention the improvement of Briggs working conditions since 1933. After the strike of that year, President Walter Owen Briggs, a semi-invalid, came out of retirement, overhauled his management. Such disinterested investigators as Dr. Leo Wolman of Columbia University and Whiting Williams of Cleveland testify that conditions today in the Briggs plants, while not the industry's best, do now pass muster.

As to Briggs's "labor trouble" since 1933, the question is one of degree. The Briggs contention that it has had "no labor trouble" is at variance with statements of the militant United Automobile Workers of America, now on the warpath to organize the motor industry and concentrating on just such key plants as Briggs. U. A. W. claim there were 51 "sit-downs" in 50 days at one Briggs plant, the last occurring Dec. 16.—ED.

"Joey"

Sirs:

I feel that I should add my tuppence ha' penny worth to the Cause of the koala [TIME, Nov. 16, et seq.] As a resident of Australia for 14 years I have had first-hand experience with the "Joey." The term "Teddy Bear" is an American importation and is not used "down under."

The State of Victoria has provided a sanctuary for the koala on Phillip Island in Great Western Bay near the most southeasterly tip of the continent. Although almost extinct on the mainland the "bears" have done very well in their island home and lately have become so numerous that it has been necessary to remove many of them to adjacent spots.