MOST OF THE 325,000 MEMBERS OF THE UNITED AUTOMOBILE WORKER'S UNION WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION OF AMERICA CAME OUT ON STRIKE SEPT. 11. INDICATIONS ARE THAT ALL THE 130 FACTORIES OF THE CORPORATION SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MIGHT SOON BE SHUT DOWN.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF GENERAL MOTORS CALLED IT A NEEDLESS STRIKE BECAUSE THE CORPORATION AND THE UNION REACHED GENERAL AGREEMENT ON A NATIONAL THREE-YEAR CONTRACT ONLY SIX DAYS PREVIOUSLY. HOWEVER, MR. WALTER REUTHER, THE UNION PRESIDENT, WAS NOT SATISFIED. HE TOLD NEWSMEN THAT HE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE GENERAL MOTORS UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY PAID A WORKER THEY DID NOT OWN HIM. REUTHER SAID THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF EVERYDAY ISSUES IN THE FACTORIES. HE ACCUSED THE CORPORATION OF BEING A "GLORIFIED, GOLD PLATED SWEATSHOP".

MAIN DIFFICULTY WAS THE UNION'S DEMAND FOR MORE LIBERAL BREAK PERIODS FROM MACHINES AND ASSEMBLY LINES. THE UNION SAID IT WAS PREPARED TO SETTLE FOR A PROPOSAL MADE SEPT 10 BY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE OLDSMOBILE FACTORY AT LANSING, MICHIGAN, WHICH PROVIDED THAT EACH WORKER SHOULD BE RELIVED FROM HIS JOB FOR "NOT LESS THAN 24-MINUTES DAILY", SUBJECT TO MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY LOCAL PRACTICE.