Representatives of the United Steelworkers Union, C.I.O., sat down to bargain with Buffalo's New York Car Wheel Co., quickly got maintenance of membership and a checkoff of union dues. Union Spokesman Joseph P. Molony followed through: the union also wanted a wage increase of 18 1/2-c- an hour--the magic figure that has settled many a wage dispute.*

Company President Robert A. Cooley had an answer that was a stopper. After figuring in a recent price increase on car wheels and saving to be made by the elimination of overtime payments, he made his counteroffer: 21-c-. Said Molony, after hurriedly accepting for some 200 employes, "They almost had to apply an inhalator to me."

* Among the wage agreements (with and without strikes) that have given the 18 1/2-c- increase something of a mythical quality: steelworkers, autoworkers (Chrysler, General Motors and Briggs Manufacturing Co.), electrical workers (General Motors and General Electric).

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