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ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS
November 7, 1947
Interference Cases
Go to Howell Level
Local 3801 this week moved to the
Howell level its complaint against sup-
ervisory interference in the union’s in-
ternal affairs, after’ A. C. Stevens, as-
sistant to the general superintendent,
refused to take action in the matter,
Stevens refused to call the accused
engineer and piece rate man to Bldg. 41
to face the committee, ~
The case involved remarks by George
L. Sholtes, piece rate man, to Joseph
Rotundo, Bldg. 783A shop steward, that
the union is,“run by Reds”, and A sug-
gestion by RD. Van Nordstrand, in-
dustrial heating and welding engineer
» in Bldg. 96, to Smeralda De Cesare, that
he seek promotion with the company by
----supporting-the so-called ~ “Democratic
Action” group in the union.
Stevens said .he knew Sholtes and be-
Neved his denial. He said he believed
Rotundo was the one who had started the
discussion. The union committee point-
ed out that Rotundo was in the room to -
back up his charges, while the company
was refusing to let Sholtes face his ac-
cusers,
Van Nordstrand Interference
As to Van Nordstrand, Stevens said
he had not talked to him and would not,
because the engineer was not De Cesare’s
supervisor and could not make commit-
ments for the company. He admitted
that he knew Van Nordstrand had held
discussions with De Cesare, but refused
to go into what he had said. The union
pointed out. that Van Nordstrand was
the man who actually gave De Cesare
his orders, and was obviously in a posi-
tion of authority to influence workers.
Stevens said he felt De Cesare had
been trying to “lead on” Van Nordstrand
-into making improper statements. The
union pointed out that Van Nordstrand
had taken the initiative in drawing De
Cesare into a discussion and suggesting
he could get him promoted.
Stevens insisted it was not the com-
pany’s policy to interfere in the union’s
affairs,
Many Such Cases
Members of the committee stressed
that these two cases were only the more
specific acts*out of a whole series of
such actions by supervision in various
parts of the plant. It was pointed out
that groups had walked out on their
work and that another group had called
a meeting during the lunch hour, each
time in support of the so-called “Demo-
cratic Action” faction, and that there
had not been the slightest protest from
supervision. The contrast with the com-
Injury Cases Taken
To Union Attorney
Twelve members of Local 301
took their workmen’s compensation
cases to the union’s lawyer, Leon
Novak, during the first week this
free service was open to them, last
week. Two of the cases involved
serious injuries, All 12 cases will
go to hearings before the Work-
‘men’s Compensation Bureau.
Mr. Novak is available to the
members on workmen’s compensa-
tion and unemployment insurance
cases, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mon-
day to Thursday inclusive, ati the
UE District 3 offieg 271 State: St.,
Room 8. He also:tan. be seen at
other..times:; y--appeintment-made-—
through the jLocal 301 office.
30! Nominations This Month
The membership meeting of Local 301,
which will be conducted in two parts
Nov. 18 and 19 at the union hall, will
nominate officers for 1948. First. and
third shift workers will meet at 7:30
p.m, .Nov. 18 and secéhd shift workers
at 1 p.m. Nov, 19.
Price Control Petition
All Local 801 shop stewards have re-
ceived petitions to cirevlate in their
shops, asking Congressman Bernard W.
Kearney to vote for price control legis-
lation, The petition asks for Jegisla-
tion with enforcement power and a big
enough appropriation to enforce it.
Varnish Makers to Meet
All three shifts of varnish makers, in
Bldgs. 67, 71, 75, and -79 will meet joint-
ly at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday) at
the union hall, Liberty Street and Erie
Boulevard, to discuss their wage rates.
pany’s attitude when such things occur.
red in support of union action was ob-
vious,
It also pointed out that on the previ-
ous day a foreman in Bldg. 69 had told
a shop steward there not to listen to
Board member Stanley Bishop, when he:
was called to advise the steward.
The union was represented by Presi-
dent Andrew Peterson, Vice-President
‘William Hodges, Recording Secretary
Helen Quirini, Chief Steward William
Mastriani, Board:‘members William Stew-
art, Leland Sisto, Willard Kuschel, James
Cognetta, Alfred Pelrah, Anthony Es-
posito, and Stanley Bishop, and. Victor
Pasche, assistant to the business agent.
Vosburg Praises
301-PAC Program
In a radio talk Election Eve, Leo H.
Vosburg, county public welfare com-
missioner, said that to him the PAC.
301 program “spells out the American
way of life. It meets the problems not
just of the working people. but of the
whole community.”
Commissioner Vosburg said he wel-
comed “this oppor- @
tunity to wind up :
my campaign for re-
election--on a broad-
cast sponsored by
the Political Action
‘Committee of Local
801.”
Discussing attacks
“which had been made
on his administra-
tion of his office, |
Vosburg declared i
was very important [Leo H, Vosburg
to him that he had
“earned the praise of the representatives
of 14,000 GE workers.” .
“Local 801 sent a representative com-
mittee to make a thorough inquiry into
the charges,” he said, “and then found
the attacks had no basis in fact and that
I deserved the continued support of the
working people of Schenectady.”
(The 801 committee also pointed out
the political nature of the charges sud-
denly made against Vosburg, and his
splendid record of cooperating with the
union during the strike.)
“As we go into that solemn duty which
is Election Day,” Vosburg said, “I want
to urge upon all of you the alert citizen-
ship of groups such as the CIO union at
GE which keeps its members informed
on public issues, and makes its endorse-
ments on the basis of a program.”
Vosburg was reelected on the Repub-
lican and ALP tickets,
Union Food Store
(Continued from Page 1)
soup, mayonnaise, salad dressing and
corned beef. There are 10 cases each of
peas, corn and cranberry sauce (24 cans
to a case), two cases each of tuna, may-
onnaise and salad dressing and five cases
-of each of the other foods. The orange
juice is available in both large and small
cans. :
In addition, there -will be 45 cases of
soap flakes and 25 cases of white soap.
Fresh vegetables, fruit and eggs have
also been ordered as usual.
Chairman Cognetta has sent out an-
other SOS for volunteer workers.
THE VOICE OF LOCAL 36). - - - WER&MWA - - - GLO,
Vol. 5 —=.No. 43
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
November 14, 1947
: us y SROs
7:30 p.m. on WSNY, WROW
and WBCA (FM).
301 Food Store Gets
Full-Time Manager |
So many Local 301 families are seiz-
ing the chance to reduce their food ex-
penses by shopping at the union’s Food
Center that a full-time manager has
been hired for the store.
On recommendation of the local’s
Food-Price Committee, the Executive
Board voted to employ Irving Yulman,
former manager of the Schenectady Con-
“sumers’ Co-Opy to run the Food Center
at 1027 State St. Mr. Yulman was con-
nected with the Co-Op management for
six years. He started work for 301 this
week.
Will Sell Meat Today
The store, which will be open today
from 9 a.m, to 8 p.m. and tomorrow from
9 am. to 6 pm, will have 500 small
smoked pienie hams, 500 one-pound bags
of sausage meat and 500 one-pound pack-
ages of bacon on sale. This will be the
first time meat has been available, ex-
cept for cans of corned beef.
Business last weekend set a new rec-
ord of $8,100 in sales. The cash register
_had to do so much work that the com-
‘mittee has bought an additional one. A
total of 982 people made purchases last
(Continued on Page 4)
Wage Structure
Proposal Sent
To Howell; Stewards Okay Plan
Local 301 this week’ sent to ‘Works Manager J. M. Howell the union proposal
of a complete wage structure for the plant. The proposal was approved Tuesday
by unanimous vote of the Shop Stewards’ Council acting under authority from the
membership,
The proposal prepared by the Job
Evaluation Committee was sent to all
stewards last week. On stewards’ sug-
gestions certain changes were made be-
. _, fore. final.action,
15 Job Groups
The proposal would. group all jobs in
the plant, day work as well as piece
work, in 15 labor grades, according to
the job “value’;—the requirements in
skill, responsibility, and working condi-
tions. It would not mean a general in-
crease, but, within the general frame-
work of present rates, would raise those
jobs whose rates are out of line.
. It would also establish a definite rela-
tionship between the piece work AER
(Anticipated Earning Rate) and the job
rate (or day’ work rate), by fixing the
AER at the job rate plus a 15% in-
centive factor. It would establish pro-
gression to the job rate for piece work-
ers as well as day workers.
Same Committee to Negotiate
The Executive Board named the Job
Evaluation Committee to negotiate the
proposal. The committee includes Wil-
liam Stewart, Eugene Lemoine, James
Cognetta, Charles Ferris, Mary McCar-
tin, Anthony Villano, Michael Tedisco,
Alfred Pelrah, and George Judway. Wil-
liam Templeton alternated for Perris in
the committee’s survey. In negotiations,
the committee will be assisted by Presi-
dent Andrew Peterson, Business Agent
Leo Jandreau, and Victor Pasche, assist-
ant to the business agent. .
The proposal represents six months’
study of jobs in the plant by the com-..
mittee. Claims as to inequities in rates
were submitted to the committee through
the stewards. .
First Section Night
Planned for Dec. 5
A Section Night progyam has been ar-
ranged for workers in Bldgs. 85, 96, 101,
105, 107 and 109 from 8 p.m. to mid-
night Dee. 5 at 801 Hall. There will be
dancing, movies and refreshments. Anth-
ony Villano’s oichestra will play.
The Activities Committee will sched-
ule other Section Nights after the new
year starts. George Judway is chair-
man and Edward La Bombard, secretary.
Blood Donors Needed
Blood donors are still needed to re-
place 10 pints of blood veeeived by Ed-
ward P. Ryan, 801 shop steward, from
the Ellis Hospital blood bank before his
death Aug. 22. Blood donations from
union members will help relieve the Ryan
family of a heavy financial burden.
An appeal also has been made for do-
nations to replace blood received by
Samuel P. Mabb of Bldg. 17.
MAKE YOU_SHOP 100 PER CENT
UNION?
$100 for Hudson Strike
The Executive Board of Local 301 vot-
ed Monday to give $100 to the UE strike
at the McCall Refrigerator Company,
Hudson.
Union Starts Survey
Of Veterans’ Skills
The Executive-Board hag ordered
that a survey be made in the plant
to determine whether war veterans
are employed where their skills are
fully utilized.
Business Agent Leo Jandreau
has mailed ‘to all shop stewards
forms for veterans to fill out, -to
give information on their training.
In his letter to the stewards,
Jandreau said, “Many veterans ac-
quired skills while in the armed
forces that could afford them high-
er rated jobs. Then too, veterans
-have not been given consideration
‘for the time out during the war as
it affects upgrading.”
EY SKI NEN
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in
me
2
Company Chisels
On Overtime Pay
The union has filed a grievance direct-
ly on the Howell level over the com-
pany’s chiseling on overtime payments
for third shift workers in the Turbine -
Division. ‘
When the Turbine dispute ‘was set-
tled with an 8 hour day for the first and
second shifts and a 6% hour day for the
third shift, it was the union’s under-
standing that third shift workers would
receive time and a half pay after 6%
hours, :
Recently 45 to 50 people in Bldg. 49
have: been working 1144 hours on the
third shift. The company has refused -
to pay overtime except for the time over
8 hours. Management claims that when
~these workers’ schedule went from 61%4°°7
hours to the present long shift, that
their work day became 8 hours. ;
When Assistant General. Foreman
Morton was asked. on what basis the
Thanksgiving holiday pay would be fig-
ured, he said that the third shift would
get 63¢ hours pay. _
The union then queried Bldg. 41 and
was told that the long hours of work
would be ended for the hird shift before
Thanksgiving arrived.
The union’s docket covers the Thanks~
giving pay as well as the general over-
time case.
During discussion on the Turbine hours
Unions? BAM! [I'l tick to radged incividualisin!
UL NEWS sievier
374 Ue
last summer, the union argued that by
overlapping it would be possible to put
everyone on an 8 hour shift. But man-
agement took a stand against overlap-
ping shifts. There's been plenty of over-
lapping since the third shift went on
the 11% hour schedule. ;
24-Cent Raises 7
Toronto, Can. (UENS)—A recently
won wage inerease of five cents plus six
paid holidays brings the total increase
won by UE Local 514 at the L.C. Smith
Nominating Meeting
The 301 membership meeting
next week will nominate candidates
for the offices of the local. It will
be a two-part meeting, with first
and third shift workers meeting at
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18. and
second shift workers meeting at 1
p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. Election
of officers will be in December.
& Corona Typewriter plant during the
year the union has been organized to
24.6 cents,
ELECTRICAL UNION NEWS -
Untrep Exeorrican, Ravio & MacHinr
Workers or Amzrica, CIO
Scmenrcrapy GE Locat 301
“SED
Published by the Editorial Committee
William Templeton, Chairman
Mary McGartin, Secretary
Willard Kuschel Victor Pasche
Leland Sisto
Editorial Office - Electrical Union News
301 Liberty St. ~ Schenectady, N. ¥.
Telephone 3-1386
| meee SCHUNRCTADY PRINTING CO INC
To Refuse Overtime
Varnish makers in Bldgs. 67, 71, 75
and 79 by a unanimous standing vote
last Saturday decided to refuse all over-
time until the company. agrees to pay
them the ome-cent raise granted t+ the
varnish makers elsewhere in the plant.
Virtually all the men from all three
shifts were present at the mecting. They
refused overtime in order to attend.
Action was taken after full discussion
of the discrimination in rates against
the group. There also was consider-
able dissatisfaction aver payment of B
rates to men doing A work,
Now It's a Different Story,
Work Shortage in Bldg. 60
In contrast with statements made by
supervision when the Turbine Division
workers were fighting the 7% hour
. shift, Foreman Barney Gardenier told
his department’ on the West”Gallery of
Bldg. 60 last week that there would be
no more overtime on the large turret
lathes for the present, except in case of
emergency. :
The men point out that they had been
tald_there would be so much work that
overtime would be required indefinitely.
Gardenier said he did not know how long
the work shortage would last, but that
he expected another flood of work in
the near future.
Help Reduce Prices
Worried about the high cost of living?
Then be sure you sign the union’s pe-
tition demanding that Congressman Ber-
nard W. Kearney vote for price control
legislation, Stewards are circulating the
pelitions in the shops.
November 14, 1947
3
Franken, Other Candidates
Heard on 301 Broadcast
Four candidates backed by 801-PAC
spoke on the regular 301 radio program
the night before election.
They are Bernard J. Franken, who
was elected supervisor from the Ninth
Ward the next day on the Democratic
: and ALP. slates;
William Alheim, Lo-
cal 301 member, re-
elected Rotterdam
supervisor on the
Republican and ALP
tickets; and Marie
Sweeney, 301 mem-
ber, and Milo Lath-
rop, UE District 3
legislative director,
ALP candidates for
City Council:
Franken said that
such a disgraceful
law as the “Taft-
Hartley affair” would
not be on the statute books: “if Franklin
D. Roosevelt were alive and with us
today.” ;
He praised the 801-PAC program for
supporting “the Roosevelt program of
peace, jobs and security.”
B. J. Franken
_ _.Franken said he didn’t see how city |
policemen and firemen feed their fam-
ilies on their low pay. He urged that
salaries of city and county workers “be
brought into line with union standards in
local industries.”
GE Gets Technical
Over 3 Days Service
A technical interpretation under whiich
a woman worker was held to have been
out of the plant for three days over a
year was enough for the company to
break her service. The union, which had
challenged the ruling, was advised this
week that the company pension board
had refused to change the decision. The
pension board ‘does not discuss cases
with the union, and the company has so
far refused to submit its actions to arbi-
tration as required by the contract.
The woman was laid-off May 10, 1946,
and checked out May 18. She was inter-
viewed and rehired May 9, 1947, but ac-
tually started work again May 18, 1947.
Interpreting the date in her favor at
either end would have preserved her
service. The company insisted that the
time out must be figured on the last day
at work and: first day on the job.
Get a Booklet
The union office has a supply on hand
of national CIO booklets analyzing the
Taft-Hartley Act. a
ELECTRICAL UNION -NEWS
It’s the Same the Wide World Over When Workers
Ask Raise from ‘Generous Electric’ Company.
GE workers in Cuba have asked Local 301 to help them get a pay raise. It
seems GE can say “No” in Spanish as well as in English.
U
Grievance Filed
Over Moving Job
For over one year two operators on
assembly of grid resistors in Bldg. 89
tried to show that a certain job on which
they work should be rated as Class A at
$1.26 instead of B at $1.18, The men
actually developed the uv.
Finally Shop Steward Joseph Hils got
Foreman A. C. Schlansker to admit it *
was an A job, and to agree to pay the
rate. But at the same time Schlansker
announced that the job “probably: ~be=:
longs” in another section and would be
done there in the future.
The union has filed a formal grievance
charging that the action by Schlansker
in moving the job constitutes retaliation
for union action in enforcing the men’s
rights, and is intended to intimidate oth-
ers who insist on their rights.
More Aprons Needed,
Management Admits
Louis Male, assistant to the general
superintendent, told Leo Jandreau in a
grievance meeting Monday that a plant
survey, made because of a union griev-
ance, showed that there were some jobs
where the workers should be furnished
aprons, where they are not now fur-
nished.
The union had filed a general griev-
anee, asking that aprons be made avail-
able free to all workers who want them.
Male said the company ‘vould not agree
“to this, but that it would furnish aprons
where the job called for it because: of
unusual difficulties, dirt, or hazards. He
said that groups which felt their condi-
tions called for aprons as part of the
job should take the matter up with the
foreman, :
Child Care Meeting -
Since Governor Dewey killed the
state’s Child Care Center program this
fall, only a few Schenectady centers are
still open. : a
The Child Care Parents Organization,
which is making every effort to keep
these centers alive, has called a public
meeting for 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19
at Nott Terrace High School on the
problem, D1. Roma Gans, education pro-
fessor. ab Teachers College, Columbia
University,..will speak.
The, letter from the president of the
GI Cubana Workers Union carried the
notation in Spanish that it had been sent
to “Secretary General Andrew Peterson,
Bldg. 52, Schenectady, chief of the CIO
in that city, and to all the employes of
the International General Electrie Co.” _
Last April the Cuban union asked the
company to revise its contract and grant
a pay increase. After M. T, McGovern,
president of the Cuban Gi company,
said “No” for several months, the-union
appealed to the Ministry of Labor, Me-
Govern considered this action insulting,
“the letter reported, and infovitied tiie inz
ion “that he was the captain of the ship.”
The Cuban Git has established a record
in sales and protits, but pays lower than
other companies in the same line, toe
union’s letter pointed out. The workers
complain. they can’t live on: their present
salaries “as self-respecting human be-
ings.”
The union head asked- President Peter-
son “to study our problem and to act if
you deem it just and proper in our be-
half.” The letter has been referred to
the international UE office for. informa-
tion,,
Union Petition Requests
State St. Parking Ban
A petition is being circulated in the
shops, under authorization of the Local
301 Executive Board, asking the city to
relieve traffic congestion in lower State
St. The petition requests that parking
be forbidden in State St. between Church
St. and Erie Blvd. from 7 a.m. to 9 am.
on. the north side of State St. and from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the south side for a
trial period of 80 days,
Local 301 representatives on the city-
wide traffic commission have pointed
out that workers ave late getting to the
plant and getting home because of traf-
fie tie-ups in lower State St.
Willard Kuschel of Local 301 told the
group the union would circulate a peti-
tion on the subject. Anthony Villano,
another 301 representative, said stores
wouldn’t lose business through the park-
ing ban “because you can’t find a place
to park in State St. anyway.’ Mary Me.
Cartin was the third 801 member at the
conference,
Union members with complaints about
transportation should contact the 301
Transportation Committee at the wiion
hall.
