Speaking in Beirut January 8, Yasir Abd Rabbou, the head of the Information Bureau of the Palestine Liberation Organization, declared the PLO’s support for the Soviet aid to Afghanistan. The Soviet intervention, he said, “is a big contribution to the struggle of all revolutionary forces opposing United States military expansionism in the Middle East.” He accused those Arab governments that denounced the Soviet move of having adopted a “reactionary” position. (Tokyo Yomiuri Shimbun, January 9.)  
 
January 24, 1955
The runaway plant problem continues to plague the labor movement. On January 13, the Otis Elevator Company informed its workers in Yonkers, N.Y. and Harrison, N.J. that unless they cooperated in cutting production costs, the company would move operations to an unnamed town in the Midwest.

The Yonkers plant employs 2,400 workers and is under contract with the CIO International Electrical Union. The Harrison plant employs 1,700 workers and is non-union, although both the CIO and the AFL are conducting organizing drives. Over 300 employees in Harrison average better than 20-year service.

The company issued its ultimatums at two special meetings called by the company in Yonkers and Harrison on Jan. 16, and also made demands upon the two city governments. What Otis wants is (1) a speed-up without increases in pay; (2) lower taxes.  
 
 
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